Officers also charge three youths with felony vandalism
Morgan Hill – An illegal left turn by a Morgan Hill resident led to his arrest on several felony charges after Morgan Hill police Cpl. Ray Ramos caught a whiff of marijuana when the man rolled down his window, according to MHPD Cmdr. Joe Sampson.
Steven Johnston, 30, was taken to Santa Clara County Jail on a variety of felony charges, including alleged possession of marijuana for sale, possession of methamphetamine for sale and transporting methamphetamine for sale.
Sampson said Ramos was on patrol at approximately 8:30pm Saturday, when he saw Johnston making a left turn onto Monterey Road from the Post Office. There is a no-left-turn sign there, Sampson said, because traffic in the area makes left turns difficult.
When Ramos pulled Johnston over to warn him about the turn, Sampson said, he smelled marijuana when the car window rolled down. A small amount of marijuana was found inside Johnston’s vehicle.
Johnston was cooperative, Sampson said, and consent was obtained to search his residence. Officers found 92 grams of marijuana, 120 grams of methamphetamine, money and narcotics paraphernalia consistent with using and selling drugs at the residence, Sampson said.
In other news, police were busy during the first warm and sunny weekend of the year, with many calls for service, Sampson added. An alert citizen helped police locate three suspects that may have been responsible for a great deal of random destruction.
Sampson said a call came in at approximately 5am on Saturday from a citizen who said he was following a carload of youths, ages 14,15 and 16, who were driving around vandalizing property. The 16 year old had allegedly taken his father’s Blazer without permission, and the boys went on a vandalism spree, Sampson said.
The teens allegedly smashed mailboxes, damaged items in front yards and broke into a few cars, stealing items such as iPods. There are at least 10 victims, Sampson said, on Badger Pass, Markross Court, Grand Prix and Excaliber.
Officers were given a description of the Chevy Blazer the teens were in, but they apparently realized they were being followed by the citizen who called police and tried to evade the vehicle, driving without lights. As officers approached, Sampson said, they gave up.
The boys were charged with felony vandalism and released to their parents.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
