Couple Arrested in Sale of Narcotics

An Oxnard couple were jailed earlier this week on suspicion of selling heroin and cocaine after police raided a shack where they were living with their five children, officials said Friday.

Demitri Soto, 31, remained in custody Friday night in lieu of $20,000 bail after his arrest Wednesday during a search of his home in the 500 block of Hayes Avenue, Police Sgt. Jana Young said.

Soto’s girlfriend and mother of their children, Anita Granados, 26, was posting bail at 9:30 p.m. Friday and was expected to be released, a sheriff’s deputy at the jail said.

Both will appear in Municipal Court on July 20 on charges of possession of narcotics for sale, the deputy said.

The couple were arrested after police served a search warrant at a wooden shed, about 10 feet by 12 feet, where they lived with their five children between the ages of 1 month and 10 years, Young said.

Inside, narcotics officers found no beds, bathroom or running water. The youngest child was asleep in a crib, Young said. Officers also found tar heroin, cocaine and cash believed to be drug sale proceeds, she said.

The children were taken into protective custody by Ventura County Social Services.