Kent Police seized nine pounds of heroin worth an estimated street value of $450,000 after detectives arrested a Kent man for reportedly selling the drug to an undercover officer.
Melquiades Garcia-Gonzalez, 28, originally from Mexico, is scheduled to be arraigned on June 9 in King County Superior Court at the Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent, according to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. He faces charges of four counts of violation of the uniform controlled substances act (delivery of heroin), an alien in possession of a firearm without a license, attempting to elude a police vehicle and conspiracy to commit violation of the uniform controlled substances act.
Garcia-Gonzales remained Friday in the King County jail in Seattle with bail set at $500,000.
“It’s the largest heroin seizure our police department has ever done,” said Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas.
Detectives started the investigation based on a tip about two months ago into a drug trafficking organization selling large quantities of heroin in Kent and other areas.
“It’s a regional thing,” Thomas said. “This group has ties to California and Mexico. They operate as far north as Snohomish County and south to Pierce County.”
Police were able to identify the group and the main player that culminated in the arrest of Garcia-Gonzalez on May 22 in the Home Depot parking lot on 104th Avenue on the East Hill. Garcia-Gonzalez showed up at the parking lot allegedly to sell heroin out of his white Honda Accord. He then found out he was selling to an undercover cop.
Garcia-Gonzalez sped out of the parking but police tracked him down after he ran from his car in the 10600 block of Kent-Kangley Road. A K9 unit found a pistol that Garcia-Gonzalez reportedly tossed in some bushes while running.
Valley SWAT executed a search warrant of Garcia-Gonzalez’s home on the East Hill and found heroin and another pistol inside the home. Police also seized heroin found inside the man’s car.
Homeland Security and the Seattle Police assisted in the case, which remains an ongoing drug dealing investigation.
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