A Felton man awaiting trial for charges of drug sales was arrested on suspicion of more drug-related crimes Saturday, March 29, in the Live Oak area of Santa Cruz.
According to deputies, Jack Smith, 75, tried to conceal 3 grams of methamphetamine and numerous pills when deputies stopped his vehicle for a vehicular code violation at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the intersection of Capitola Road and 17th Avenue.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies found 5.3 grams of methamphetamine, 2.3 grams of cocaine, 19 Norco pills, 34 morphine pills, 123 hydrocodone pills, a scale, packaging material and more than $500 in cash. They suspect that Smith planned to sell the drugs.
Smith was booked into Santa Cruz County Jail on suspicion of transporting and possessing drugs for sale and committing a felony while out of jail on bail. He is awaiting trial for a similar drug-related arrest last year. As of Wednesday, April 4 he remained in County Jail with a $50,000 bail. He is scheduled to be in court for a motion on April 5 after press time and again on April 13.
Smith’s former residence in Felton was the subject of neighbors’ complaints about drug activity and blight for years.
Following numerous arrests for drug offenses at the residence on the 100 block of Felton Empire Road, the property was red-tagged for building code violations.
A court order subsequently ordered all occupants off the property, which is in the process of foreclosure by the bank.
A second occupant of Smith’s vehicle, Kristina Hammel, 32, was cited and released by deputies Saturday after allegedly obstructing and delaying officers by refusing lawful orders.
