Deputy busts man for drugs at park and ride

San Diego County Sheriff’s deputy Steven Fealy arrested a Chula Vista man on drug charges the morning of May 4 after contacting him at the Park & Ride located adjacent to Interstate 15 on the 3400 block of S. Old Hwy 395 in Fallbrook.

According to a media report filed by Sgt. Jim Pucillo, the park-and-ride location is known to law enforcement as a narcotics trafficking corridor, frequently used to smuggle drugs north from Mexico.

Fealy, after engaging 64-year-old Roberto Corona in conversation and eyeing the vehicle he was driving, suspected the man could be transporting narcotics. A sheriff’s K-9 was called to the scene to conduct a “drug sniff,” and the K-9 alerted to possible narcotics in several areas of the vehicle. In addition, there were indications the vehicle had been tampered with and that there were possible secret compartments.

In searching the vehicle, Fealy found multiple plastic packages of suspected illegal narcotics that had been hidden in several areas of the vehicle. These areas included the front bumper, rear bumper and the gas tank of the vehicle. A total of 57 packages of suspected methamphetamine were located, and the total weight of the seized narcotics was estimated at over 67 pounds.

Corona was booked into the Vista Detention Facility for possession of narcotics for sale and transportation of narcotics for sale.