Man Accused of Selling Marijuana to Teens

An ongoing undercover investigation targeting drug sales to children led to the arrest this week of a 22-year-old man who police allege sold marijuana to teenagers from his kitchen window.

Thursday’s arrest was the sixth in as many weeks resulting from the investigation, officials said.

Jose Vasquez was apprehended Thursday at a Mission Drive apartment on suspicion of possession of marijuana, three counts of selling marijuana and sales of marijuana with a loaded firearm. More than 3 ounces of the drug, a rifle and handgun were confiscated, officials said.

Vasquez was being held Friday on a $50,000 bond in Costa Mesa Jail.

A 17-year-old girl from Irvine allegedly was trying to purchase drugs from Vasquez and also was arrested, police said. Word had spread at Woodbridge High School in Irvine that drugs could be purchased from the apartment in the 900 block of Mission Drive, officials said.

“The customers would go through a back gate, which was unlocked, and tap on the [kitchen] window,” said Sgt. Bob Phillips of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Though the amount of marijuana seized was small, Phillips said, “the significance is that he’s selling to children.” Vasquez also allegedly sold marijuana to undercover officers, Phillips said.

As part of the same investigation, Raul Carrasco, 20, a transient, was arrested May 2 on suspicion of sales to a juvenile. He allegedly tried to sell marijuana to a 13-year-old and a 14-year-old, who also were arrested.

“I arrested him personally,” Phillips said of Carrasco. “He had scraps of paper with his name and pager on it. . . . He was handing it out to the kids.”

Phillips said Carrasco and Vasquez did not appear to be working together.

A third man, Alejandro Medina, 21, was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of selling cocaine.

The undercover project will continue, Phillips said.

“The urgency in this case is that our kids are being [victimized],” he said. “These people make no distinction between young people and adults.”