A Santa Paula transient was arrested last week by Santa Paula Police and Ventura County Sheriff’s investigators for alleged drug sales conducted in an East Harvard Boulevard retail parking lot.
According to VCSO Sgt. Mike Horne, investigators contacted 33-year-old Joseph Espinoza “knowing he was wanted for a misdemeanor traffic warrant and discovered evidence of methamphetamine sales.”
The arrest occurred Friday, April 11 when the VCSO and SPPD investigators were “conducting surveillance at a parking lot in the 200 block of East Harvard Boulevard,” near Palm Avenue.
The area was being watched because information had been offered that the area was known for the sales of narcotics.
During the surveillance, Horne said investigators observed Espinosa drive into the parking lot.
“Knowing Espinosa had an active misdemeanor traffic warrant, he was contacted and arrested,” and a search of his vehicle revealed 1-ounce of methamphetamine, a scale, and other indications of methamphetamine sales.
Espinoza was arrested for the outstanding warrant, suspicion of transportation of methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine for sale.
He was booked into the Main Jail in Ventura.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Bureau/West County Street Team, made up of narcotics detectives from the VCSO and Santa Paula Police Department, conducted the investigation and arrest.
Said Horne, “This team works cooperatively to conduct narcotics investigations in the western portion of Ventura County.”
