Crime & Safety

Sheriff: Suspected Heroin Dealers Arrested

Deputies find heroin, cash during a car stop on Monday.

A sheriff's deputy pulled over a car just outside of Santa Cruz late Monday and caught two alleged heroin dealers, the sheirff's office reported Thursday.

The traffic stop happened around 11:40 p.m. at Capitola Road and Seventh Avenue.

Deputies reported that the driver, Alfonso Martinez Barrios, was an unlicensed driver and had no ID. That led deputies to search Barrios' vehicle, in which they allegedly found 15 packages of heroin ready to sell—worth about $200—and other evidence suggesting drug sales, according to Sgt. Mark Yanez.

Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Barrios, a 32-year-old homeless man, was arrested on suspicion of transporting and selling heroin, as well as giving false ID to police and driving without a license. A federal immigration hold also was placed on him when he was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail.

His passenger, Humberto Patino Alcaraz, 29, of Santa Cruz also was arrested on suspicion of possessing heroin for sale. Deputies reported he had $500 cash on him, which likely was proceeds from drug sales, according to Yanez. Barrios posted bond Tuesday and was released from jail.

Find out what's happening in Capitola-Soquelwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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