(Note: The EPD, below, seems to believe that the primary suspect in this case fathered a child at the age of 11. Your Lost Coast Outpost begs leave to doubt this.) (Sgt. Steve Watson writes the LoCO to say that he is in the process of confirming the precise familial relation between the suspects.)

From the Eureka Police Department:

On 01/02/13, at about 3:15 PM, investigators with the Eureka Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Unit, assisted by the Humboldt County Drug Task Force and Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, simultaneously served multiple search warrants at three residences located in Eureka and Cutten. The warrants were the culmination of an on-going investigation into a large-scale heroin trafficking operation involving suspect Luis Miguel Esparza-Zermeno (age 30). The locations searched included residences on the 3900 block of Cedar Street, 4200 block of ‘D’ Walnut Street, and 10 block of Del Norte Street, Eureka.

Esparza-Zermeno was contacted and detained at the front door of the Cedar Street apartment. During a subsequent search of the apartment, investigators located approximately 1.3 pounds (over 20 ounces) of Mexican black tar heroin, a digital scale, and drug sales packaging materials. Additionally, another 10 ounces (over ½ pound) of an unknown substance was found in the apartment. The substance was later sent to the Department of Justice lab for analysis and identification as a possible controlled substance or “cutting agent” (used to dilute heroin and increase quantity/profits).

Esparza-Zermeno was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for possession of heroin for sale, maintaining a place for drug sales, and possession of marijuana for sale.

During a search of the Walnut Street address (Esparza-Zermeno’s primary residence), investigators located suspected pay/owe drug ledgers, 4 pounds of processed marijuana packaged in 8 separate containers, a necklace bearing the image of the “Narco patron saint” Jesus Malverde, 3 more digital gram scales, heroin use paraphernalia, suspected controlled prescription medication pills crushed into powder form, a loaded .22 caliber revolver, and over $23,000.00 in U.S. Currency. The money was seized by the drug task force as suspected proceeds from drug sales. A female in the residence, Yisele Bautista (age 19), was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for booking. Bautista is Esparza-Zermeno’s daughter.

In the jail’s intake screening area, correctional officers located approximately 2 more ounces of black tar heroin concealed in Bautista’s undergarments. The charge of possessing heroin for sale was added to her booking paperwork.

No drugs were seized or arrests made at the Del Norte Street address.

Anyone with information concerning suspected drug activity or other crimes occurring in the City of Eureka is encouraged to call the Problem Oriented Policing Unit at (707) 441-4373.