Police: Hotel Room Drug Bust Is One of Largest in Loudoun History

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Images: Ronald D. Delaespada, Luis M. Garcia (Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office).

Two men were arrested early Tuesday at a Sterling hotel after a felony drug investigation that led to one of the largest seizures of narcotics and cash ever made in Loudoun County, the county sheriff announced.

“The arrest of these two men along with the recovery of a large amount of drugs has made our streets safer,” said Loudoun Sheriff Mike Chapman. “The efforts of the members of the Tactical Enforcement Unit during the course of the investigation, combined with the coordinated efforts of our patrol deputies during Tuesday morning’s arrests, were exemplary.”

The three-month investigation, conducted by the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU), led to the seizure in a Sterling hotel room of more than 2.5 pounds of powder cocaine, 1 kilo of cocaine (brick), 5 ounces of crack cocaine, 1.5 ounces of heroin, 6 pounds of marijuana, 5 ounces of PCP, 429 ecstasy pills, prescription pills, $60,000 in cash and other drug-related items, the sheriff’s office said. Two vehicles were also seized.

Ronald D. Delaespada, 39, of New York and Luis M. Garcia, 37, of Connecticut were charged with distribution of narcotics and possession with intent to sell/distribute. Both men were being held without bond at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center in Leesburg.

The investigation is continuing and further arrests are possible, the sheriff’s office said.

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The arrests took place at about 3 a.m. Tuesday as narcotics detectives were preparing to search a third-floor room in a hotel in the 45500 block of Majestic Drive, the sheriff’s office said.

Garcia suddenly exited the room, and he was apprehended at the scene and taken into custody. The TEU members determined that a second suspect was still inside the room.

As they attempted to enter the hotel room, Delaespada jumped from a third-floor balcony and onto an awning below. He then fled into a wooded area and refused to comply with commands to exit or show his hands, the sheriff’s office said. Delaespada was taken into custody with the assistance of a police dog led by a sheriff’s deputy.