FIVE MEN ON HOMELESS VOUCHER PROGRAM ARRESTED IN EL CAJON MOTEL WITH DRUGS, ILLEGAL WEAPONS

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By Miriam Raftery

March 30, 2023 (El Cajon) – Five men have been arrested at the Best Value Inn in El Cajon for possession of illegal drugs and weapons, including two on probation, both staying there under the County’s homeless voucher program.

It all started yesterday morning, when El Cajon Police officers stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation on North Second Street. The driver, John Bevins, 63, was on probation for stolen property and had an illegal weapon, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, according to Lt. Darrin Forster.

That led to a search of the motel room where he was staying at the Best Value Inn on Oakdale Avenue, as a participant in the county’s motel voucher program for homeless individuals.

When officers approached the room, they reportedly saw Gene Garcia, 41, leaving the room. He was found to be in possession of methamphetamines.

Officers discovered two more men inside the room, Hector Robles, 46, and Daniel Manzur, 53.  Manzur was staying there under the County’s homeless voucher program, administered by their vendor Equus. He was in possession of methamphetamine. “Manzur told officers he had been on the County’s homeless voucher program for 18 months in various El Cajon hotels,” says Lt. Forster.

Robles was on probation for possession of stolen property. He was found in possession of over 37 grams of methamphetamines, Lt. Forster says. Officers learned he had a separate room at the motel, so they conduced a probation search of his room and found Arturo Ruiz, 36, in the room in possession of methamphetamine.

Below are the charges:   

John Bevins - Possession of Narcotics & Illegal Weapon – Booked into County Jail

Gene Garcia – Possession of Narcotics - Cited and Released

Hector Robles – Possession of Narcotics for Sales – Booked Into County Jail

Daniel Manzur – Possession of Narcotics & Drug Paraphernalia – Cited and Released

Arturo Ruiz – Possession of Narcotics – Cited and Released

These arrests are the latest in a string of criminal actions alleged by the county’s voucher program participations. Earlier this month, two men were arrested for sexually assaulted and molesting an underage girl.  Another teen was shot in the head in a separate incident. There have also been incidents of open drug use in and around the motels by voucher participants, and other violations.

The City of El Cajon has urged the County to vet voucher participants for criminal backgrounds but the county has refused to do so, since the program is an inclusive one intended to keep all homeless participants off the streets.  Those who violate the rules are moved or after multiple violations, can be expelled from the program.

The City Council is weighing a variety of actions that would restrict or regulate motels accepting county vouchers to house the homeless, and has asked staff to draft language for proposals ranging from requiring motels to screen voucher participants for criminal backgrounds and notify police, to a partial or full moratorium on the program in El Cajon.

 


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