Search warrant leads to drug bust in Santa Maria

A 54-year-old man was arrested Friday after special investigators from the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant and raided a residence in Santa Maria.

At around 7:00 a.m. investigators executed two narcotics related search warrants at a duplex on the 500 block of North Thornburg Street.

Upon entering the two residences, investigators detained 13 individuals, including one juvenile. While searching the residences, investigators discovered about 14 grams of heroin and various narcotic paraphernalia consistent with sales and drug use. The heroin had an estimated street value of $1,200.

Investigators also located more than $28,000 in cash and a stolen .38 caliber handgun. The handgun was loaded.

After the search, authorities arrested Luis Paz, 54, a resident of the home.

Paz was booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail where he could face charges for posession of heroin for sale, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of a loaded firearm while possessing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale within 1000 feet of an elementary school and possession of drug paraphernalia.