Crime & Safety

Cops: Meth Found Within Reach of 6-year-old

A Monterey County couple was arrested in Watsonville on drugs and weapons charges; drugs left at their house were within reach of a child.

A Monterey County couple suspected of selling methamphetamine and other drug crimes were pulled over Friday in Watsonville.

Their arrests started an investigation that led to searches of two properties and Child Protective Services taking custody of a child who was living in a house where methamphetamine was within his reach, Watsonville police reported.

Andrew Downs, 34, and Kristie Jones, 41, were booked on a long list of charges including drugs, gun possession and child endangerment, police said.

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The investigation began around 2:53 p.m. when two Watsonville police officers pulled over the couple near South Green Valley Road and Green Meadow Drive for a vehicle code violation, police reported.

Downs, the passenger, was known to officers and on probation, so police searched the car. They found a hidden compartment that held methamphetamine and a a scale, police said. 

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Downs and Jones were arrested on suspicion of drug possession and for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

Downs had a hotel key with him, so officers then went to the motel (which was not revealed by police) and, because Downs is on probation, searched the room. They found methamphetamine, heroin, paraphernalia and a loaded .22 caliber handgun, police said.

Then officers conducted another probation search was conducted at Downs’ home in Monterey County. There, they found more methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and evidence of drug sales. The meth was found in an area accessible by a 6-year-old child who lives at the residence, so Monterey County CPS was contacted to take custody of the child.

Downs and Jones were both booked into Santa Cruz County Jail.


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