Spring Valley : 19 Are Arrested in Drug Probe at High School

Sheriff’s deputies arrested 19 “former and present” Monte Vista High School students Thursday morning, capping a six-month investigation into narcotics trafficking on and around campus.

Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Rich Hendrickson said an undercover deputy posing as a student made 26 small purchases of methamphetamines and marijuana since September. He added that 17 of the drug transactions occurred on the Spring Valley school’s grounds, and the others took place near the high school after negotiations were made at the campus.

On Wednesday, deputies said they believe they may have cracked two alleged drug suppliers for the students when they executed a search warrant on a Spring Valley home in the 4000 block of North Bonita Street.

Arrested and booked in connection with possession of methamphetamines were Gary Martin Sullivan, 26, and Ann Marie Sullivan, 25. An arrest warrant for another student, who moved out of California, is still outstanding, the Sheriff’s Department said.

The spokesman said information on how many of the students arrested and were attending Monte Vista High School was not available, but most of them were students at the school.

Two of the people arrested were adults and they were identified as Gonzalo Ramirez, 18, and James Dunn, 18.

Dunn, a student from Spring Valley, was being held at the county jail on suspicion of possession of methamphetamines for sale. Ramirez, who is also from Spring Valley, was booked into the county jail on the same charge.

Hendrickson said the sheriff’s street narcotics unit arrested 13 of the students, including Dunn, on school grounds. Ramirez and five others were taken into custody off campus.

The Sheriff’s Department notified the Grossmont Union High School District prior to enrolling the undercover deputy. Hendrickson said Thursday’s arrests marked the third time deputies have infiltrated narcotics trafficking at the school district.