3 Arrested During Spring Valley Crime Suppression Operation

SPRING VALLEY, CA — Three men were arrested at a Spring Valley house during a San Diego Sheriff's Office Crime Suppression operation, officials announced Wednesday.

On Tuesday, just before 6:30 p.m., deputies with the Crime Suppression Teams at the Rancho San Diego Sheriff's Station and Lemon Grove Sheriff's Substation conducted a fourth waiver compliance operation at a home in the 3000 block of South Barcelona Avenue in Spring Valley.

A fourth waiver is when a parolee or probationer has to consent to a search by law enforcement at any time without a warrant.

Mario Tapia, 60, and Erasmo Tapia, 53, were believed to be selling illegal street narcotics from their home, according to a statement released Wednesday by SDSO deputies.

"Just prior to the fourth waiver compliance operation, Mario Tapia was seen conducting an illegal drug transaction and was quickly detained along with Erasmo Tapia and Levi Gagarin, 46, according to the statement.

"During a search of the home, deputies found approximately 28 grams of suspected methamphetamine, stolen driver's licenses, personal identifying information, credit cards and ammunition," the statement said.

All three were arrested on suspicion of various felony violations and booked into the San Diego Central Jail.

— City News Service