Butcher Arrested on Drug Charges

A Chapala Market butcher — 49-year-old Isidro Vasquez — was arrested Tuesday and charged with selling cocaine and methamphetamine out of the Milpas Street store.

Santa Barbara narcotics detectives stopped Vasquez as he was driving to work and discovered 14 packages of meth (3.8 grams) and 10 packages of cocaine (3.5 grams) in his car. At Vasquez’s home detectives located 12.7 grams of cocaine, other drug-related items, a 9mm handgun, and a .22 caliber rifle. In the market was a gram scale used to weigh narcotics, police said.

Vasquez reportedly told authorities that he sold drugs out of the store doing school hours, but police said there is no evidence to suggest Vasquez dealt to any kids. Nor does it appear his employer was involved in his alleged illegal activities. Vasquez admitted to receiving stolen property as payment for the drugs. Inside his home and car, police reportedly found 27 cell phones, 18 iPods, and 4 laptop computers

The butcher was booked into County Jail on a variety of drug-related charges. His bail is set at $30,000.

During Vasquez’s arrest, detectives detained another butcher — 29-year-old Artemio Ortega — for being under the influence of a controlled substance. He was also booked on an unrelated DUI warrant.