Three arrested on drugs, weapons charges in Castroville

Three Castroville residents were arrested Wednesday on weapons and drugs charges after an investigating into stolen vehicles.

Members of the Monterey County and Santa Cruz County Auto Theft Task Forces conducted a follow-up investigation at a Del Monte Farms Road residence after several stolen vehicles were recovered from the residence within the past few months.

Inside the home, officers found methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia. They also found several vials of morphine apparently taken from an ambulance driven by Deborah Bennett, a 46-year-old paramedic who lives at the home.

Bennett was arrested along with 32-year-old Jennifer Cooke and 52-year-old Michael Pipitone.

A firearm and ammunition was found in the possession of one of the individuals, who is a convicted felon. Authorities would not immediately say which of the three that was.