But there was nothing typical about either operation. In Delta, the potential for violence from suspects allegedly equipped with a “sophisticated” video surveillance system and several firearms forced agents to wait until David Castro and his wife, Chante Gay, left their Apricot Lane residence Thursday.
The couple was arrested on a traffic stop. Seventh Judicial District Meth/Drug Task Force Agent Jim Fuller said that in addition to a small quantity of methamphetamine, officers recovered thousands in cash — including some that was stashed in a baby’s bed.
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Fuller said those drugs were delivered to an address on Cowbell Court by a Phoenix-based courier identified as Manuel Rodriguez-Beltran.
Also arrested at the residence were people whom Fuller said gave their names as Catyria Lopez, Amparo Gomez-Gonzales (on suspicion of drug offenses) and Enrique Suarez-Salgado (on suspicion of possessing a forged instrument).
Fuller did not say whether the Delta and Montrose cases were related. The task force was still trying to confirm the identities and immigration status of those arrested in Montrose.
In both cases, confidential informants and follow-up investigations led to warrants.
“We had been getting a lot of intel concerning their (alleged) involvement in the distribution of meth,” Fuller said of Castro and Gay.
Their residence was placed under surveillance. Fuller said agents were waiting for the couple to leave their home, because of possible risks to officer safety.
Some agents served the search warrant while other agents conducted a traffic stop and arrest. Agents searching the Castro home reportedly found seven firearms, including two long guns and semi-automatic pistols. Fuller said one of the guns was reported stolen and that Castro, who pleaded guilty to felony criminal assault-extreme indifference in 1999, was not supposed to possess firearms.
Agents also found a “pretty sophisticated video surveillance system” throughout the house and garage, Fuller said.
“He even had a camera in the 6-month-old baby’s room,” Fuller said.
Only about an ounce of presumed meth was found, but there was also $11,000 in cash.
“We literally found stacks of cash throughout the residence. We found money in the baby’s bassinet,” he said.
“The weapons were strategically placed. They were within arm’s reach and they were loaded. That’s why we elected to take them in a traffic stop, hoping we could avoid any gunplay inside.
“It’s incredible what these people allow to occur. Kids are always the ones who get caught in the middle of it.”
Fuller said the child was placed in the care of Gay’s mother.
“We understood they were using some of their product as well,” he alleged of Castro and Gay. “It didn’t create a good atmosphere to do a traditional search warrant.”
Fuller said Castro’s bond upon arrest was in the aggravated range, at $250,000. Gay’s arrest bond was $60,000; he did not know whether either suspect had posted bail.
Both new and historical information led to the Montrose drug operation, where the Montrose Police and Drug Enforcement Administration aided the task force.
The information pointed to people in the Cowbell Court home being involved in the “importation and distribution of meth,” Fuller said.
As agents watched the residence Friday evening, they saw a Honda Accord with California plates pull into the garage.
“This substantiated a lot of the information we learned. Taking the timing into account and the information we were aware of, we executed the warrant,” Fuller said.
Most suspects were arrested without incident, though one individual reportedly tried unsuccessfully to flee from the garage.
“It was a lot of good police work and patience,” Fuller said. “It was a long operation, but it was successful.”
According to the agent, the task force found “quite a bit of dope” — more than three pounds of suspected meth in the garage, some of which was in concealment compartments within the Honda — along with $15,000 in cash.
“The folks there were actively involved in meth distribution in Montrose and surrounding areas,” Fuller alleged.
“This group, just by the amount of meth recovered, were obviously significant traffickers. This was the point of distribution to, I’m sure, a number of other distributors in Montrose and surrounding communities.”
According to Montrose County jail records, Lopez, Rodriguez-Beltran and Gomez-Gonzales were held on suspicion of DUI and unlawful distribution/possession. Initial bond was $150,000 each. Suarez-Salgado was held on suspicion of possession of a forged instrument; his bond upon arrest was $2,500.
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