2 More Union-Tribune Workers Arrested in Drug-Sales Inquiry

Two press room employees of the Union-Tribune Publishing Co. were arrested Wednesday after an investigation linked them to illegal drug sales at the firm’s main office on Camino de la Reina in Mission Valley, Police Lt. Lou Scanlon said.

James F. Larwa, 37, of El Cajon, and Susan Elaine Tilton, 26, of Spring Valley, were arrested at 9:30 a.m. on warrants issued Monday by Municipal Judge Robert J. Cooney for sales of a controlled substance, namely methamphetamine.

Larwa was booked into County Jail and is also being held on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of a prescription drug without a prescription. Bail was set at $10,000.

Company Started Inquiry

Tilton was booked into the County Jail at Las Colinas on $5,000 bail. In addition to the warrant, she was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of and possessing a controlled substance.

The company initiated an investigation in June, 1986, of its employees by hiring a private agency, Narcorp, that worked with the San Diego Police Department’s narcotic street team, Scanlon said.

On July 8, eight Union-Tribune employees were arrested during a raid of the printing plant’s production department. In addition, two women, not associated with the company, were arrested the same day at an employee’s apartment in Loma Portal after half an ounce of methamphetamine was found.

All of the arrests were made in connection with the sale and possession of a controlled substance.

The investigation of employees was begun after company management was given anonymous information about the possibility of drug sales and abuse within the company, according to a statement written in July by General Manager Gary D. Goss.

The Union-Tribune Publishing Co. publishes the morning San Diego Union and the afternoon Tribune.