GRANTS - According to a report turned over to the Beacon on Monday by the Grants Police Department, a final warrant from the recent “Operation Wolf Pack” resulted in no arrests. The operation was a joint effort between the Narcotic Task Force and S.W.A.T. Team. The first three phases resulted in a total of three arrests and the fourth resulted in three arrests. Following is the final warrant from phase four executed on Sunday, Sept. 13:

Police executed the warrant late Sunday evening at the Franciscan Hotel (or Lodge) at 1101 E. Santa Fe Ave. Officers made contact with Rogelio Esparza, also known as Roger Esparza, the manager of the hotel, according to Sgt. John Castaneda. The Beacon confirmed on Thursday that Rogelio and his grandmother Josephine Esparza are co-managers and have been for one week, according to Mrs. Esparza.

During the search police were able to locate a baggie with drug like residue, however, no charges were filed, according to the report. Police did gather evidence that subjects inside the lodge were tipped off of the bust before police arrived.

“Even though this is the last warrant of the operation the Grants Narcotics Task Force is working diligently to push drugs out of Grants,” the report stated.

Also noted in the reported was that the Esparzas told them that owner Rhetta King was not at the business at the time of the bust. King is Cibola County DWI Compliance Coordinator. However, the Beacon received documentation from Cibola County that the hotel is owned by King Enterprises, owned by Kenneth and Patricia King of Grants. Esparza told the Beacon that Rhetta is a relative of the Kings but is not owner of the hotel.

Rogelio Esparza, according to the courts, has a lengthy police record. In early 2009 he had gone to court for evading, obstructing and resisting a peace officer and possession of drug paraphernalia. His most recent issue in the courts is driving on a revoked license in July.

The report from GPD concluded by stating that the department has noticed a rise in methamphetamine use by youth, noting that the drug is highly addictive and is something the community does not want the young people experiencing.

“The community along with the surrounding agencies, including the District Attorney's office, the courts, need to come together to put a stop to the highly dangerous chemical.”

If you have any information of drug use in the community and would like to join the effort to fight the problem, call Castaneda or Det. Kevin Dobbs at the Grants Police Department at 287-4404.