Five arrested in major drug trafficking investigation
Five North County residents were arrested Aug. 16 in connection with dangerous drugs being for sale.
This is an update of the original story: Two alleged heroin and meth dealers arrested.
Atascadero, Paso Robles police make arrests after two-month investigation
At the culmination of a two-month investigation by the Atascadero Police Department’s Street Crimes Detective Team with collaboration from the Paso Robles Police Department’s Special Enforcement Team, five people from Atascadero and Paso Robles were arrested on Aug. 16 in the Paso Robles/Cholame area for possession of heroin and cocaine intended for sale. The teams had been investigating a drug trafficking operation occurring in Paso Robles.
The team effort resulted in Atascadero police detectives writing several search warrants. When police discovered the whereabouts of the main suspect, Gabriel Pazrea, the two departments asked for the California Highway Patrol’s assistance in making a traffic stop on the suspect’s vehicle. The CHP made a traffic stop in the Cholame area on Highway 46, where the suspect and his vehicle were searched. The suspects and his two passengers, Cindy Campos and Beatriz Ramirez Rodriguez, were arrested at the time on suspicion for possession of illegal drugs — specifically methamphetamine and heroin.
While preparing to serve the search warrant at Pazrea’s home at 3400 Airport Road in Paso Robles, two visitors, Brenton Farrens and Allison Trammel, at the residence were arrested by Paso Robles police on suspicion of possession for heroin for sale. According to police, it was discovered that Farrens had an outstanding warrant for his arrest, and Trammel had provided false information as to her identity when contacted. After their arrest, the vehicle they had been in was searched. In it, detectives reported discovering over two grams of heroin, 2.5-grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and more than $1,000 in cash, evidence of drug sales.
In the search of Pazrea’s residence and accompanying out buildings, a large amount of heroin and cocaine was seized. According to police, the drugs seized were 115 grams of heroin — a quarter-pound — with a street value at approximately $15,000; 20 grams of cocaine with a street value at approximately $1,560; and 1 gram of methamphetamine. More than $4,450 dollars was seized as assets from the sales of illegal drugs.
Atascadero Police Department arrests:
- Gabriel Pazrea, 26, of Paso Robles, booked at San Luis Obispo County Jail for possession of a dangerous drug for sale, committing a felony while out on bail and criminal conspiracy. His bail is set at $100,000.
- Cindy Campos, 21, of Paso Robles, booked at SLO County Jail for possession of a dangerous drug for sale, criminal conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bail is set at $25,000.
- Beatriz Ramirez Rodriguez, 21, of Paso Robles, booked at SLO County Jail for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bail is set at $20,000.
Paso Robles Police Department arrests:
- Brenton Albert Farrens, 26, of Paso Robles, booked for possession for sales and transportation of a controlled substance, felonies, possession for sales and transportation of illegal narcotics, felonies, conspiracy to sell narcotics, a felony, and a misdemeanor warrant.
- Allison Rae Trammel, 24, of Atascadero, booked for possession for sales and transportation of a controlled substance, felonies, possession for sales and transportation of illegal narcotics, felonies, conspiracy to sell narcotics, a felony, and false representation of another, a felony.
“This investigation, seizures of illegal drugs and money, along with the arrest of these dealers shows a commitment from the Atascadero and Paso Robles’ Police Departments to make our streets safer and rid our communities of the dangerous drugs that are seriously affecting our communities,” APD Sgt. Jason Carr wrote in a press release issued by the department.
As of Wednesday morning, Pazrea and Trammel were still in custody; while Campos, Rodriguez and Farrens were not listed on the county’s jail logs.
