Two parolees incarcerated after police confiscate more than 50
grams of meth worth more than $1,000
Morgan Hill – Continuing their crack-down on drug-related crimes, Morgan Hill police officers arrested 10 people between Nov. 2 and Nov. 6 on charges related to methamphetamine, according to police Sgt. David Swing.
“Our officers have arrested people on charges from being under the influence of a controlled substance to possession for sales,” Swing said.
On Nov. 2 at approximately 10:55am, police officer Kyle Christensen responded to a call reporting people possibly breaking into a home on Easy Street, he said. Christensen found Jacob Pippin, 26, of Milpitas, and Kathleen Ramirez, 19, of Morgan Hill, at the home.
Pippin was on parole for burglary, Swing said, and when his car was searched, Christensen found a cloth sunglasses case containing a crystal substance that tested positive for meth. The gross weight of the case and the drug was 43.15 grams, with a street value of between $900 and $1,200. Christensen also found approximately 110 glass vials which Swing said are commonly used in making glass pipes to smoke the meth and an electronic scale with narcotic residue on it.
The pair were booked into Santa Clara County Jail. Pippin was charged with alleged transportation of meth, possession of paraphernalia, suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, burglary, possession of meth for sale and a parole violation.
Ramirez was charged with alleged transportation of meth, simple possession of meth, possession of paraphernalia, suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and burglary.
On Nov. 6 at approximately 7:20am, Cpl. Shane Palsgrove was responding to an alarm call when he saw a car run a stop sign and then speed up, Swing said. When Palsgrove turned on his lights, the driver didn’t stop right away, and when he did, Swing added, Palsgrove could see him reaching under the dashboard area of the car.
Robert D. Vaca, 27, of Morgan Hill, was on parole for possession of meth, and Palsgrove arrested him on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance. He then searched Vaca’s car, and found a bag containing crystal meth in the fuse box area of the car under the dashboard. Approximately 6.5 grams of meth were found with a street value of between $100 and $125.
Vaca was booked into Santa Clara County Jail for alleged possession of meth, for suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and driving under the influence, for alleged possession of stolen property and parole violation.
The MHPD is not alone in its meth suppression efforts.
In 2005, the United Narcotics Enforcement Team (UNET) discovered four meth labs, one in Hollister, two in the county and one in Gilroy.
The task force is comprised of law enforcement officials from Gilroy, Hollister and Morgan Hill and San Benito County and Santa Clara County Sheriff’s offices and California Highway Patrol.
“Our lab seizures have been down the last couple of years,” said Mark Colla, UNET supervisor. “From about 1995 to 2000, we saw a lot more meth labs; there wasn’t then the restrictions on the component chemicals, like ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, red phosphorus and iodine. It’s harder to get the ingredients now, so we don’t see as many of the labs.”
Most of the methamphetamine in the UNET area is smuggled in from Mexico, Colla said, and therefore the street price has gone up.
Last year, the task force seized 6,500 grams of meth – and that’s just work by the task force alone, not in assistance to local police or the Drug Enforcement Agency – plus 45 firearms and $40,000 in cash.
This year to date, Colla said, UNET has arrested 100 people, seized 1,706 grams of meth, 62 firearms and $48,000 in cash.
Colla said the task force sees a definite link between meth use and other crimes.
“We find that meth use and addition are directly tied to certain crimes, including auto burglary and auto theft, and identity theft,” he said. “Instead of working to get the money to support their habit, they go out and steal.”
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
