Assistant baseball coach arrested for buying cocaine at North Salinas High

An assistant baseball coach for North Salinas High school has been arrested on drug charges following a several week investigation.

Salinas police say Ronald Stevens, 55, was caught buying cocaine behind the school around 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Commander Michael Groves said Stevens was contacted near the baseball field after the alleged sale. Officers found a small bag of the drug inside his car.

Commander Groves said the department received a tip that a drug transaction had been taking place on a regular basis in the back parking lot of North Salinas High School and in a nearby parking lot next to the school.

Over the past several weeks, undercover officers conducted a surveillance of the area and confirmed the tip, according to Commander Michael Groves.

Police also arrested the coach’s 26-year-old son, Shawn Stevens. During a search warrant, officers said they found approximately 1-ounce of cocaine and marijuana at Stevens’ house, which was under the control of his son.

The alleged drug dealer, 56-year-old Alberto Manriquez, was also arrested.

Alberto Manriquez was booked into Monterey County jail for possession of cocaine, possession for sales, transporting cocaine and false identification.

Ronald Stevens was booked for possession of cocaine.

Shawn Stevens was booked for possession of cocaine for sales, possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana for sale.

(Pictured below from left to right: Shawn Stevens, Alberto Manriquez)