Pot Bust

February 25, 2011 permalink

Arizona child protector Ariana Anton has been arrested for growing marijuana.

expand

collapse

Child Protective Services investigator arrested in pot bust

Ariana Anton

Credit: Flagstaff Police Department

by Jennifer Thomas, Posted on February 24, 2011 at 12:46 PM, Updated February 24 at 5:52 PM

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- A Child Protective Services investigator and two other people were arrested on drug charges after police found marijuana growing inside a Flagstaff home.

Flagstaff police Sgt. James Jackson said agents from the Narcotics Task Force executed a search warrant Wednesday morning at a home near Thompson Street and Mikey Drive after receiving tips about illegal marijuana sales and marijuana growing in the house.

The agents found approximately 2 pounds of cultivated marijuana and seized another 22 marijuana plants, which were in several stages of maturity, according to Jackson.

The agents also seized several items of paraphernalia, including lights used to assist in the growth of marijuana plants.

Jackson said the value of marijuana varies from $500 to $2,000 per pound depending on the potency.

Antonio Valdez, 30, and Ariana Anton, 27, were booked into Coconino County Jail on charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jackson said Anton has been employed by Child Protective Services since November 2006.

John Molina, 28, was later arrested and booked on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Source: KTVK Phoenix

Addendum: There are too many drug busts of social workers to keep track of. Here is a cocaine case from Florida.

expand

collapse

DCF investigator charged with cocaine possession

Deputies found a found a small bag containing white powder in Susan Cunningham's car.

Susan Gayle Cunningham, 39, of Orlando was charged with cocaine possession.

(Orange County Jail, Orange County Jail / February 28, 2011)

By Arelis R. Hernández, Orlando Sentinel, 10:15 a.m. EST, February 28, 2011

A Florida Department of Children and Families investigator was charged Saturday with drug possession after she was seen leaving a motel suspected of drug activity by Orange County deputy sheriffs, officials said.

Orange County Sheriff's office spokesman Jeff Williamson said deputies were working a tip about drug sales in the 7400 block of South Orange Blossom Trail and arrested a woman about 5:30 p.m. for drug possession. They later discovered the woman is employed by DCF, he said.

Susan Gayle Cunningham, 39, of Orlando was charged with cocaine possession after she was seen leaving the Arrow Motel on South OBT and was pulled over, an arrest report stated.

DCF spokeswoman Carrie Hoeppner confirmed Cunningham has been an Orange County investigator since 2005. After hearing about the arrest Saturday, the agency began reviewing all of her open cases and reassigned them.

"An arrest of this nature is terribly concerning to me, it is especially bothersome when it pertains to an individual who holds a position of public trust, who is tasked to look after Florida's most vulnerable, " said DCF Central region director John K. Cooper.

Hoeppner said Cunningham will likely be fired. As a rule, all employees must submit to drug tests.

Deputy Alberto Matos had been watching the area when he spotted Cunningham enter the place and leave in her car. Matos gave a description of the vehicle.

Deputy Ronald Batista stopped Cunningham in the Sky Bowl parking lot for failing to signal when she changed lanes and asked to search her car.

Cunningham refused to give permission so Batista called a K-9 narcotics investigator. The dog alerted them to drugs and deputies found a small clear bag tied in a knot containing 15 grams of white powder in the car's center console.

The powder tested positive for cocaine, deputies said.

Cunningham's car was seized and she was taken into custody at the Orange County jail. She bonded out Sunday.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement records show that prior to this arrest, Cunningham does not have a state criminal record.

arehernandez@tribune.com or 352-742-5934

Source: Orlando Sentinel