Hollister
– A Hollister man was arrested Saturday for possessing $18,000
worth of methamphetamine and resisting arrest, Unified Narcotic
Enforcement Team agents said.
Hollister – A Hollister man was arrested Saturday for possessing $18,000 worth of methamphetamine and resisting arrest, Unified Narcotic Enforcement Team agents said.
Saul Nieto, a 25-year-old parolee, was arrested after fleeing from agents in 700 block of Haydon Street at 6:23pm Saturday, UNET Cmdr. Mark Colla said.
Sheriff Curtis Hill said the arrest is the result of money put to use from a California Multi-jurisdictional Methamphetamine Enforcement Team grant, which is about to enter its second year. The Cal-MMET grant targets the bigger methamphetamine dealers, Hill said.
“The two deputies assigned to the Cal-MMET grant are out there working on these mid-level dealers,” the sheriff said. “This was a good one. There’s one less dope dealer on the street. I couldn’t be happier.”
Agents recognized Nieto as a felony parolee as he was stepping out of a white Mitsubishi Diamante, according to UNET.
When an agent began questioning him, Nieto allegedly pushed the agent and began running, deputies said.
The man fled to his apartment on South Street, where he attempted to barricade himself, agents said.
Because Nieto is on parole, agents and assisting deputies were able to search his apartment, according to UNET.
Upon searching the vehicle and apartment, deputies found almost three-quarters of a pound of methamphetamine with a street value of $18,000, Colla said.
Deputies also found $5,165 in cash in the apartment, which was seized by UNET, Colla said.
Agents booked Nieto into the San Benito County Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine for sale, transporting methamphetamine and violation of parole, all felonies, according to jail personnel. Nieto was also charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest.
Nieto is being held at the San Benito County Jail without bail.
If convicted of transporting methamphetamine, Nieto could face up to four years in state prison, according to the California Penal Code.
Michael Van Cassell covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or mv*********@fr***********.com.
