Cops, Drug Agents Make 4 Arrests

Police and the Region III Drug Task Force joined to arrest one suspected cocaine dealer and search two homes, according to search warrants and Santa Fe Capt. Aric Wheeler.

Wheeler said the target of the investigation, 55-yearold Gilbert Romero, was arrested at a residence on West Manhattan Avenue on Tuesday afternoon. Romero is in the Santa Fe County jail, charged with trafficking cocaine and crack cocaine.

That morning, a West Alameda Street residence, listed as a home for Romero along with the Manhattan Avenue house, and a Fayette Street address were served with warrants, Wheeler said.

An undercover agent met previously with Romero at the West Alameda home to buy crack and powder cocaine two times, according to the warrants. The agent went with Romero to the Fayette address, where Romero allegedly retrieved and sold the agent powder cocaine.

A search of the Fayette address turned up 26.8 grams of heroin, according to Wheeler, along with 36.7 grams of a white powder, which might be a narcotic or a cutting agent.

Police arrested two people at the West Alameda home: Aaron Holguin, 24, of Santa Fe, on a failure to appear warrant, and Timothy Payne, 50, of Santa Fe, on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Both men are being held at the Santa Fe County jail.

Police arrested one suspect at the Fayette address: Aaron Ortega, 38, of Albuquerque, charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Ortega was released from jail that same day.