During the months of December 2020 and January 2021, the Fountain Valley Police Department Crime Suppression Unit (CSU) investigated an individual that was known to sell narcotics and firearms throughout Orange County. CSU learned this seller was staying at the Fairfield Inn in Tustin.

On January 14, 2021, surveillance was established at the hotel. Arnoldo Meraz, a 20-year-old resident of Santa Ana, Alexander Almaraz, a 21-year-old resident of Irvine, and a juvenile were contacted at Meraz’s vehicle in the parking lot of this hotel.

A search of the vehicle yielded a loaded .22 caliber revolver in the passenger door, 31 Oxycodone, 244 Adderall, 94 Xanax pills and approximately $4,900 in cash.

Search warrants were obtained for Meraz’s two hotel rooms as well as his residence in Santa Ana. 351 Oxycodone, 82 Xanax pills, 41 Suboxone strips and approximately one ounce of cocaine were located in one of the hotel rooms. Ammunition, firearm parts and 11 grams of cocaine were located at Meraz’s residence.

Meraz was already out on bail for weapons and narcotics trafficking violations.

Meraz and Almaraz were booked into OCJ for various weapons and narcotics trafficking violations as well as child endangerment.

The juvenile was booked into OC Juvenile Hall for various weapons and narcotics trafficking violations. Incident 21-01314