SLO police arrest 5 people on drug and firearms charges after vehicle surveillance
Police arrested five people in San Luis Obispo on Wednesday morning on suspicion of drug and firearm crimes.
The San Luis Obispo Police Department arrested William Soto, 29; Thomas Westbrook, 39; Joshua Finneran, 33: Barbara Jordan, 37; and Michele Chavez, 25, according to a news release.
Each of the suspects are from Paso Robles, except for Jordan, who’s a Los Osos resident, according to police.
According to police, investigators received information that Finneran was staying at a hotel in San Luis Obispo. He was known to authorities and had warrants for violating his post-release community supervision and possessing narcotics for sale with gang enhancements, the release said.
Investigators found Finneran’s car at the hotel parking lot and conducted surveillance, detaining Finneran and Chavez when they returned to the vehicle a short time later, police said.
Finneran was taken into custody for outstanding warrants and on suspicion of possessing of a loaded firearm, according to the release. Chavez was arrested on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine and fentanyl for sale, police said.
Investigators discovered that Soto and Jordan were staying at the hotel, police said, and Soto also was wanted for violations of his release from custody as part of the Post Release Community Supervision program.
Police said they found two loaded handguns in Soto’s possession as well as narcotics and money indicating he was involved in drug sales. Gang enhancements allegations against Soto will be forwarded to the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office.
Police said Westbrook fled from officers after they tried to detain him.
Jordan was taken into custody for probation violations, according to the release.
As of Thursday afternoon, Soto was being held at San Luis Obispo County Jail in lieu of $80,000 bail and Finneran was being held at the jail in lieu of $200,000 bail, jail records show.
Jordan, Chavez and Westbrook were not listed in jail custody, according to jail records.
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 4:08 PM.
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