Alleged drugs-by-drone operation busted in Riverside

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Riverside residents Ashley Carroll, 31, and Benjamin Baldassarre, 39, were allegedly involved in selling illegal drugs with use of a drone.
Riverside residents Ashley Carroll, 31, and Benjamin Baldassarre, 39, were allegedly involved in selling illegal drugs with use of a drone.
Riverside PD

RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- Riverside police arrested two people they say were involved in a drug operation that involved delivering narcotics by a drone.

When officers raided the alleged drug house, they say they found narcotics scattered all around, including a vape pen containing marijuana found in the bedroom of a 9-year-old girl.

The raid of the house was preceded by a surveillance operation that began when officers learned of individuals selling drugs using a drone.

Officers say they saw a drone leave the back yard of a home in the 8700 block of Chesapeake Lane, fly to a nearby parking lot and drop a package of drugs to waiting customers.

On Thursday, officers served a warrant on the home where the drone was seen.

They say they found drugs throughout the home, in addition to used, uncapped needles scattered throughout a bedroom. They also say they found unpackaged powders believed to contain the drug fentanyl.

They also say they found methamphetamine, candies laced with LSD and the drone.

They also found a vape pen with marijuana in the bedroom of a 9-year-old girl living at the home. Protective Services was called in and eventually the child was released to her mother.

Police arrested two Riverside residents associated with the residence: Benjamin Baldassarre, 39, and Ashley Carroll, 31. They were booked for possession of controlled substances, possession of controlled substances for the purposes of sales, conspiracy to commit a crime, and child endangerment.