Police: Two men arrested for California drug charges after errant text message

 Posted on June 01,2012 in Drug Crimes

Police in Southern California claim that an errant text message led to the arrests of two men who are suspected of California drug crimes. A narcotics suppression officer says that he received a text message from someone who allegedly was seeking to sell drugs. Although it is unclear what cellphone the text message was sent to, the cop says he played along and set up a meeting for a drug deal.

The officer claims that he asked to buy about two grams of methamphetamine from the unknown person sending the errant text message. He reportedly set up a location and time for the meeting. The officer then contacted the drug unit at the Sheriff's department about the alleged drug sting. Deputies went to the location and found a man, who they say had roughly two grams of meth in his possession.

While at the alleged drug deal location, deputies say a second man arrived. Law enforcement suspects the second man as the drug supplier. They reportedly seized roughly 7 grams of meth from the second man. Detectives claim a review of the second man's cellphone contents had information that corroborated the details of the drug deal that was set up by the police officer.

The two men were arrested on suspicion of drug possession for sales crimes, and each man was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail. The men are also accused of transportation of a controlled substance and criminal conspiracy.

A passenger was in the car that the second man drove to location of the alleged drug deal. Authorities say that the passenger was cited for being under the influence of a controlled substance and released.

Source: Santa Maria Times, "Errant text message lands suspected SM drug dealers in jail," May 30, 2012