Sheriff arrests 7 in drug bust

Two separate narcotics investigations in Ramona last week led to seven arrests and the seizure of drugs, weapons and $1,100, reports Lt. Duncan Fraser with the Sheriff’s Ramona Substation.

On Monday, Dec. 8, sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Seiver and members of the sheriff’s Street Narcotics Team, a special investigations division, arrested 23-year-old Mark Curry and a 17-year-old male following a probation search of the adult’s residence, Fraser said. The 17-year-old’s name was withheld because he is a juvenile.

The next day, detectives from the sheriff’s Street Narcotics Team arrested four adults and a 15-year-old male, all of Ramona, on charges involving heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy, and a variety of prescription pills that are classified as controlled substances, the sheriff’s department reported. Arrested were Travis Blackmon, 19; Dean Letzring, 21; Kevin Phillips, 21; and Donald Belling, 20.

All of the arrests occurred at the suspects’ residences, said Fraser. The adults were booked into custody at San Diego Central Jail and the two juveniles were taken to Juvenile Hall.

The suspects were charged with several felonies, including possession of narcotics, possession for sale of narcotics, and possession of dangerous weapons and drug paraphernalia.

Deputies seized 66 grams of heroin; 3 grams of cocaine; Ecstasy pills; prescription Percocet, Vicodin and OxyCodine; knives and syringes.