March 24, 2021 – Ventura County, Ca.
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department Gang Unit and Narcotics Street Team will apparently never be found wanting for something to do. Evidence of that is apparent in their ongoing efforts to curb the sale of heroin throughout the county, where fatal and non-fatal overdoses continue to occur on a daily basis.
The arrest of Michael Enrique Rios on the afternoon of March 23 rd may be one step further in controlling the problem. According to VCSD spokesman Sgt. Eduardo Malagon, Rios—wanted on “an outstanding felony warrant”—was on law enforcement radar throughout the month of March, pursuant to “information” received by the Gang Unit.
That information pointed to the fact that Rios was actively engaged in the sale of heroin to Ventura County citizens and spurred detectives to no uncertain urgency in their hunt for him.
It was in the late afternoon of the 23rd when detectives tracked Rios down to the 100 Block of Oak Street in the City of Ventura and made contact with him. He was promptly detained, at which point he was found to be “in possession of money and evidence indicative of narcotics sales.”
Once he was in custody, detectives then searched the hotel room and a local storage unit registered in his name. That search lead to the further discovery of 15 ounces of heroin, drug paraphernalia, and an undisclosed amount of cash believed to be the proceeds of illegal drug sales.
Rios was transported to Ventura County Jail, where he was booked on possession of heroin for sales. He remains in custody on a no-bail hold.
Photo: Courtesy Ventura County Jail Booking
