South County authorities raid drug houses , including two near schools

A collaborative effort between law enforcement agencies in South County is paying off. This week alone, three people have been busted in four separate raids, yielding more than a half pound of meth and guns.

On Tuesday, members of the Southern Monterey County Violence Suppression Collaboration raided a home on Pearl Street in King City. They arrested Reynaldo Asebedo after finding 1.5 ounces of meth, marijuana, a billy club, drug paraphernalia and a police scanner inside the home. The home was right across from San Lorenzo Elementary School.

On Wednesday night, more SMCVSC members raided a home on Inca Drive in Soledad that was located just feet from Soledad High School.

“As a result of that search,” Soledad Police Chief Eric Sills explains. “We’ve come up with a quantity of packaged methamphetamine processed for sales, it appeared. And we also recovered two loaded firearms, and one was stolen out of the state of Washington.”

Despite those two raids being near schools, officers don’t believe the suspects were targeting students.

On Thursday, the SMCVSC recovered more than a half a pound of meth, cocaine and a gun after searching two homes on Fifth Street and Meadow Circle. 45-year-old Yolanda Garcia, who authorities say had ties to the Norteo Street Gang, was arrested. Another associate, Victor Gonzalez is still on the loose.

Investigators with SMCVSC say the community has played a large role in helping to crack these cases.

“Certainly the intelligence sharing is critical,” Chief Sills said. “The collaboration of all of us coming together when we do have some operation, for example, our officers assisted in another city today. Anytime we can come together to do that, we’re just one south region. For that matter, we are one county and we are all going to continue to work together.”

Sending the message — drugs and violence are not tolerated here. Teachers and staff at Soledad High School have been taught to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.

“If something is catching my eye that is out of routine,” Frankie Berlanga, health teacher explained. “Out of character, especially if you notice a lot of emotional distress, you try to probe and ask some questions and inquire a little about that.”

And when needed, the district’s intervention coordinator, Aidee Aldaco is brought in.
“I’ll find the time of the day to pull them out of class and really just check in with them,” Aldaco said. “”Hey, Is there something going on? Is there something I can do to better support you?” And I take that time to also mention to them all the programs that we have available here on campus.”

Some of those programs involve the YWCA, the health department, including mental health services, even Planned Parenthood and the Child Abuse Prevention Council. More resources are coming as early as next week.

“Should be starting next week where we’ll have a full time therapist,” Aldaco explained. “An MFT on our campus and also one for the middle school.”

There’s also a school resource office dedicated to building relationships with students in the middle and high schools.

“If there’s a need or the child really needs some intervention,” Chief Sills explained. “Then our officer would work with their team to do whatever we can to provide assistance and do anything we can to disassociate their use of drugs or being involved with gangs.”

Many students said they turn to staff members instead of their friends because they are afraid of being judged.