Search Reveals Marijuana Stashed In Toddler's Room; Cocaine, Heroin and Bundles Of Cash In The Garage

Date Added: January 12, 2017 2:00 pm

Andrew Gant
Public Information Office

SEARCH REVEALS MARIJUANA STASHED IN TODDLER’S ROOM; COCAINE, HEROIN AND BUNDLES OF $60,000 CASH IN GARAGE

Volusia County sheriff’s investigators acting on complaints of drug sales out of a home in Deltona arrested a suspect on charges of distributing cocaine, heroin and marijuana.

Shortly after 11 a.m. Wednesday, deputies pulled up to the home at 762 Leeward Drive with a search warrant in hand. The suspect, 42-year-old Jose Ramon Hidalgo (DOB 1/29/1974), was secured in handcuffs, and a woman and two children were brought out of the house to a couch in the garage.

Inside a toddler’s bedroom closet, deputies found about 5 ½ pounds of marijuana packaged in vacuum-sealed bags. In a backpack at the bottom of the closet, they found three digital scales and six glass Mason jars of marijuana.

In the master bedroom, deputies found three loaded firearms and $1,100 cash. In an attached garage, they found more large bags of marijuana along with smaller bags packaged for sale. They also found a cooler containing bundles of cash totaling $60,000, plus two grams of heroin and 16 grams of cocaine packaged in small bags for sale.

The case started with a tip in October, and investigators started covertly monitoring the residence. Members of the Deltona Narcotics Enforcement Team and Deltona Street Crimes Unit executed the search warrant Wednesday. Hidalgo, who told investigators he’s a self-employed handyman, was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hidalgo was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail and released early this morning after posting $18,000 bond.