Pair Arrested With Drug Stash

A pair of Pasco folks were arrested in the pre-dawn hours Wednesday after they were found a with a stash of illegal drugs and prescription medicine in a New Port Richey hotel, according to the New Port Richey police Department.

At around 3:27 a.m., New Port Richey police officers visited the Ramada Inn Bayside at 5015 U.S. 19 in the city to respond a noise complaint, according to a media release from New Port Richey Police Chief James Steffens.

When they arrived at room No. 258, they found Abel Salazar, 31, smoking apparently lillegal substances, “possibly crack cocaine,” Steffens wrote.

When officers entered the room, they saw “in plain view a multitude of scheduled prescription pain pills and marijuana,” Steffens said in the release.

Salazar was arrested. So was Tonnie Alcorn, 22, who was in the room with him.

Further investigation in a related motel room revealed a .357 revolver that “was reported stolen from another agency,” Steffens said.

Also in that room with the gun, which was unsecured, were two young male teens and piles of credit cards, according to Steffens.

“Numerous credit cards belonging to other people were observed lying in piles on the floor,” Steffens said.

The origin of the credit cards is being investigated.

A one-and-a-half-year-old baby was in one of the rooms and taken into protective custody by Child Protection Investigators.

More than $1,200 in cash was seized, according to Steffens.  A 2006 Nissan Altima was also seized.

The case is still being investigated.

Both Salazar and Alcorn were in Land O' Lakes Jail Wednesday evening. The charges so far are as follows:

Abel Salazar of 15300 Pinellas Ave. in Dade City faces these charges:

• Possession of Cocaine 7.1 Grams
• Possession of Methamphetamine 8.3 Grams
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Ambian 10MG)
• Trafficking in Hydrocodone 315.3 Grams
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Hydrocodone 10MG)
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Adderall 30MG)
• Possession of Oxycodone (30MG)
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Diazepam 10MG)
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Adderall 20MG)
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Clonazepam 2MG)
• Possession of Legend Drug
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Dealing in Stolen Property
• Failure to Safely Store a Firearm in Presence of Minors

Tonnie Alcorn of 7131 Ivanhoe Drive in Port Richey faces these charges:

• Possession of Methamphetamine 2.0 Gram             
• Possession of Marijuana (Over 20 Grams
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Alprazolam 2MG)
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Carisopiodol)
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Adderall 30MG)
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Diazepam 10MG)
• Possession of Controlled Substance (Methylphenidate)