Polk County HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area) Task Force members on Tuesday, conducting an investigation about the sale of Meth in Polk County, arrested seven suspects, and seized: over 50 lbs of methamphetamine (Meth), three vehicles (a Ford Expedition, a Chrysler 300, and a Nissan Murano), three motorcycles, $13,300 cash, and three firearms.
Undercover detectives purchased Meth and/or observed others purchasing Meth from a street level drug dealer, identified as 38-year-old Lydia Santiago of Kissingen Avenue in Bartow, over an approximately 11-month time period.
Detectives conducted a traffic stop on Santiago’s vehicle on Tuesday, and located over 3 lbs. of Meth in her SUV, along with $8,000 cash. Santiago’s three children were also in the SUV. Santiago was arrested, along with her front-seat passenger, 20-year-old Daquon Gunter-Santel of the 2400 block of Blaire Circle South in Lakeland, who is currently on probation. The children were all turned over to DCF.
At Santiago’s residence, investigators found a firearm and approximately .5 lb of Marijuana. 23-year-old Jorge Morales-Vallejo was inside the residence at the time, and was arrested. While detectives were there, 22-year-old Arturo Sanchez and 24-year-old Angel Castro arrived, and detectives found 2 lbs. of Meth in their vehicle.
At another residence in the 200 block 24th Court SW in Winter Haven, detectives seized of a small amount of Meth and paraphernalia, and $5,300 cash. 35-year-old Jose Torres who lives at that address was arrested.
A search warrant conducted at a house in the 500 block of L SE in Winter Haven, used as a “stash house” by Arturo Sanchez and Angel Castro turned up 46 lbs. of Meth and two firearms. One of the firearms was confirmed stolen out of Brevard County. At another location, in the 1500 block of East Georgia Street, detectives arrested 61-year-old Edwin Hall for being a possession of over one ounce of Meth.
Suspects arrested:
Lydia Santiago, DOB 3/18/1974, of Kissingen Avenue in Bartow; charges: Trafficking in Meth Over 200 Grams; Maintaining Vehicle for Drug Use with Minors Present; Possession of Marijuana Over 20 Grams
Daquon Gunter-Santel, DOB 5/2/1992, of Blaire Circle South in Lakeland; charges: VOP (Robbery with Firearm)
Jorge Morales-Vallejo, DOB 7/17/1989, of East Georgia Street, lot 314, in Bartow; charges: Battery on LEO; Resisiting Arrest With Violence; Possession of Paraphernalia
Arturo Sanchez, DOB 3/2/1990, of 24th Court SW in Winter Haven; charges: Trafficking in Meth Over 200 Grams
Angel Castro, DOB 5/17/1988, of 24th Court SW in Winter Haven; charges: Trafficking in Meth Over 200 Grams
Jose Torres, DOB 9/12/1977, of 24th Court SW in Winter Haven; charges: Possession of Meth; Possession of Paraphernalia
Edwin Hall, DOB 8/29/1951, of East Georgia Street, lot 308, in Bartow; charges: Trafficking in Meth Over 28 Grams; Maintaining Dwelling for Drug Trafficking; Possession of Paraphernalia
