Crime & Safety
Police: Perris Councilman Found With Meth, Arrested on Drug Charges
Sheriff's officials say the politician called police out to investigate a theft, but he was the only one ultimately arrested.
Perris City Councilman Julio Rodriguez has been arrested on suspicion of drug possession after he allegedly called authorities to a hotel to report a theft, according to sheriff's officials.
Rodriguez, 28, was arrested around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday after he summoned authorities to a hotel in the 500 block of Redlands Boulevard, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.
However, once authorities arrived on scene and were investigating the theft, the councilman "...displayed symptoms consistent with being under the influence of a controlled substance," according to Sheriff's Sgt. Ryan Hoxmeier.
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Rodriquez was arrested, and deputies searched his hotel room.
"During a subsequent search of Mr. Rodriguez' hotel room, drug paraphernalia and a small quantity of methamphetamine was located," Hoxmeier said.
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Rodriguez was booked on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and being under the influence of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $5,000.
Rodriguez was elected to the Perris City Council in 2012, and he sits on the Riverside Transportation Agency Board of Directors.
– City News Service contributed to this report.
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