[SIZE=+2]2 arrested in Sonic drug deals
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Web Posted: 05/06/2007 10:16 PM CDT
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]Vianna Davila
Express-News[/SIZE] San Antonio police arrested two employees at a West Side Sonic a fast-food restaurant known for its flavored drinks and friendly carhops on skates after learning the pair were allegedly dealing drugs out of the location. During a raid Saturday night at 422 S. Zarzamora, police confiscated $3,000 they believe came from drug sales and roughly 72 grams of cocaine; most of the drugs were kept in dozens of plastic sandwich bags hidden throughout the restaurant, according to a police report.
At least two of the bags were stuffed into a pair of roller skates, the report said.
It wasn't the first time police busted one of the store's employees for offering customers a little something extra on the menu.
On March 15, police arrested assistant manager Justin Alexander Ruiz after receiving an anonymous tip he was dealing to Sonic customers, according to police spokesman Joe Rios and a police report. Ruiz was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, 4 to 200 grams.
When members of the Police Department's Tactical Mobile Response Unit learned the dealing had continued, they began to conduct surveillance on the drive-in eatery. They observed several drug transactions, noting the way cars quickly came and went "too soon to have made an order for food," the report said.
By Saturday night, officers had collected enough evidence for a search warrant. En route to execute it, officers learned the current manager, Jesus Ledesma, suspected in the transactions, had left the restaurant. He was detained and later arrested.
Ledesma was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver 4 to 200 grams.
Police also arrested employee Francisca Riojas, who they believe brought the drugs to customers waiting in their cars. She was charged with possession of a controlled substance less than 1 gram.
The report did not say whether Riojas worked as a Sonic carhop or who owned the roller skates stuffed with cocaine.
Also unclear is the extent of the drug ring operating out of the restaurant.
But even as police were still collecting evidence, someone called the Sonic to warn Ledesma that officers were on their way, according to the report. He later received a text message from a customer asking if he had any marijuana.
A Sonic manager refused to comment on the incident Sunday, referring all questions to the restaurant's corporate office in Oklahoma.
On a drizzly Sunday after the arrests, a family enjoyed their lunch in a covered Sonic patio. Cars arrived and parked, and by all accounts, drivers ordered food.
Edward Cortez watched from inside a Fred's Fish Fry across the street. After learning about the previous day's bust, he remembered his friend once ordered a soft drink from the Sonic that tasted "funny."
As for his last meal there a foot-long Coney hot dog and French fries the food tasted "all right."
"It was just a little bit cold."
