Gilroy
– Police arrested a suspected drug dealer for child endangerment
when they discovered he was stashing narcotics in his children’s
clothing.
By Lori Stuenkel
Gilroy – Police arrested a suspected drug dealer for child endangerment when they discovered he was stashing narcotics in his children’s clothing.
Members of the Anti-Crime Team served a search warrant at 7081 Rosanna St. – where they suspected 22-year-old Christian Morales Barajas possessed drugs to sell – about 7:30pm March 19.
They found sufficient amounts of crystal methamphetamine, marijuana, digital scales, and glass pipes in the home to arrest Barajas for possession of narcotics for sale, a felony. They also found some of the methamphetamine in the pockets of clothes belonging to Barajas’ two children, ages 2 and 4, said officer Joseph Deras. The children were not wearing the clothes at the time, he said.
“We’re concerned, because if they are able to get to where the clothes are hanging, if they ingest this stuff it can create serious medical problems,” Deras said.
The living conditions also were “less than desirable,” Deras said: Barajas, his wife and two children were living in one room of the house – five other people lived there, too – where Barajas kept his drugs and paraphernalia. Barajas also had a television set in the room with the back panel disconnected, a possible hazard to the children, Deras said.
In excess of $5,000 cash was found in the room, hidden under the floor, he said.
“(The couple) don’t have real steady employment, so to have that kind of cash on hand lends itself to building the sales case,” he said.
Barajas’ children are currently in the custody of their mother, Deras said.
ACT’s arrest of Barajas follows several other narcotics-related investigations that have resulted in several Gilroy residents facing felony drug charges, and the seizure of about $30,000 in proceeds from drug sales.
Deras said he anticipates more felony arrests will follow.
Anyone with information may remain anonymous and call ACT at 846-0384.
