Accused Pill-Peddler Selling From Van Busted: RivCo Deputies

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A 27-year-old Lake Elsinore man was arrested on drug-related charges Thursday after deputies spotted a "large gathering" of individuals around a blue van, whose driver subsequently was stopped and found to be in alleged possession of oxycodone, that appeared to be packaged for sale, according to authorities.

Deputies from the Lake Elsinore sheriff’s station's Problem Oriented Policing Team were cruising the area of Riverside and Lakeshore drives when they saw "a large gathering in and around a blue 2000 Dodge Van," the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said.

As deputies moved in, the individuals fled, and the van took off, the department said.

The driver, later identified as Jose Solis-Velasco, was pulled over for vehicle-code violations at St. Charles Place and Riverside Drive, deputies said. Solis-Velasco, listed as on active "Post Release Community Supervision," allegedly was found to be in possession of more than 100 oxycodone pills.

"Based on the deputies' training and experience and the way the pills were packaged," Solis-Velasco was booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center for suspicion of possession of narcotics for sale and violation of a post-release community supervision, the agency said.

Anyone with additional information on the case can call the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station, Deputy Kramer at (951) 245-3300, or can submit a tip using the Sheriff's CrimeTips online form.

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