Two arrested on drug charges in Tonasket

TONASKET – Two were arrested on Saturday, May 28 when the Tonasket Police Department served a search warrant upon a Tonasket resident.”The warrant was obtained in regard to narcotics believed to be in the residence,” Tonasket Police Chief Robert Burks said. “Once the house was entered and all persons within secured, a search of the residence was conducted.”Assisting the TSD were the United States Border Patrol and the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office. Seized by the law enforcement personnel were approximately 10.4 grams of marijuana and approximately 23.8 grams of hashish, along with $100 in cash and several smoking devices believed to be used for smoking marijuana and oxycontin.Arrested and booked in Okanogan County Jail were Laronga S. Williams, 32, and Joseph L. Martinez, 20. Both are facing 11 different charges including possession of marijuana less than 40 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance/manufacturing with the intent to deliver. At the time of the warrant, a male and female juvenile were found in the residence. No charges were filed against them and they were released to their parents.Burks stated this was the result of an ongoing investigation the department has been doing into Williams and her residence.”We have received several complaints about the residence over the last several months and have been doing what we could to resolve those complaints,” he added. “I would like to thank the U.S. Border Patrol and the Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance in the serving of this warrant.”