Three arrested for drugs, weapon possession at local hotel
Morgan Hill – Two Morgan Hill residents and a Gilroy man were taken to Santa Clara County Jail last Tuesday morning after Morgan Hill Police found drugs and a stolen gun in their possession.
Gabriel Castro, 23, of Morgan Hill was arrested for multiple weapons violations, possession of methamphetamine for sale, being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia.
Michael Valenzuela, 19, of Gilroy was arrested for multiple weapons violations. Krissy Loa, 24, of Morgan Hill was arrested for possession of methamphetamine for sale, being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia; she was also arrested for child endangerment because of the “proximity of dangerous drugs to her 3-year-old daughter,” said MHPD Cmdr. Joe Sampson.
According to Sampson, Officer Kyle Christensen was on patrol around midnight when he noticed two men in the parking lot of the Paradise Motel on Monterey Road. The men appeared to be rummaging through a vehicle; because of the recent rise in auto burglaries in the city, Christensen approached the men.
When they saw Christensen, the men ran away from the car towards one of the motel rooms. Christensen stopped the men, and they identified themselves. Sampson said Castro is a known Norteño gang member.
Officers arrived to assist Christensen, and he searched the vehicle Castro and Valenzuela were looking in when he arrived. Christensen found a loaded 9mm pistol on the floor board, reported stolen out of Tempe, Arizona.
The men were arrested without incident, and officers then conducted a search of the motel room because Castro is on active parole. In the room they noticed a strong odor of marijuana. They found Loa, who told them she is Castro’s girlfriend and he lives in the room with her.
Officers also found approximately 30.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine, which is about the size of a lime and has a street value of approximately $1,000. There was a small amount of marijuana in the room, drug paraphernalia and packaging material. Officers found other gang related items in the room.
