Local restaurant involved in drug bust

The Pinal County Narcotics Task Force served two narcotic search warrants in the city of Maricopa on January 6 resulting from a joint investigation with Chandler Police Department. One was served at Mariscos El Pulpo Loco, a Mexican restaurant located at 44630 Maricopa – Casa Grande Highway. The other was at a suspected stash house at 51191 Julie Lane.

As a result of the investigation, over 200 pounds of marijuana, two vehicles and approximately $1200 were seized. Three suspects, all of whom are from Maricopa, were taken into custody and booked into the Pinal County Adult Detention Center on charges of Possession and Transportation of Marijuana for Sale. The suspects arrested were Fernando Reyes-Salazar, 20, Alfredo Fernandez-Vasquez, 44, and Jose del Carmen Morales-Hernandez, 20.

When asked about arrests, Brenda Coronado, an employee at Mariscos El Pulpo Loco and daughter of owner Jose Coronado, said “That had nothing to do with the restaurant. They were found by the casino and chased out here.”

While the suspects’ relationships to the restaurant are part of an ongoing investigation, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Department did inform inmaricopa.com that a Grand Jury indicted Jose Coronado on felony drug charges one week later. Coronado is wanted on two counts of Transporting and/or Selling of Marijuana.