Hollister juvenile arrested on suspicion of giving Xanax to minors

HOLLISTER, Calif. (KION) A Hollister juvenile is in the San Benito County Juvenile Hall facing charges related to giving drugs to minors.

On Tuesday, staff at San Benito High School found out about suspected drug sales in Hollister and reported it to School Resource Officer Staci Esqueda. Esqueda then said she found out someone was selling Xanax in the community using SnapChat.

Within a day, Esqueda got reports that four minors were taken to the hospital and getting treatment for taking what were suspected to be Xanax pills. They were treated and released, but an investigation showed that the person suspected of selling them the drugs lived in the 800 block of Central Avenue.

On Friday, Hollister police and United Narcotics Enforcement Team agents served a search warrant at the home. Officers said they found a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and a .22 caliber rifle. A juvenile suspect was arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall for charges related to giving drugs to a minor. Another person living at the home said the guns belonged to them, but the guns were seized pending more investigation.

Police said they have seen an increase in the number of counterfeit prescription pills recently, and they are more likely to be laced with Fentanyl. They remind members of community not to take any medication not provided by your doctor or pharmacist and to speak to your children about the dangers of drugs.

Anyone with information is asked to call Hollister Police Officer Staci Esqueda at 831-636-4330.