Released: October 16, 2013 - Wednesday, 01:52 PM
Panga Boat
Contact: Tony CipollaPhone: (805) 781 4547Date and time of incident: 10-16-13, Approximately 1:30 AMPlace of Occurrence: Approximately a mile north of San Simeon BeachVictim Information: N/ASuspect Information: 17 suspectsOn 10-16-13, Deputies with the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office were conducting routine Panga patrols along Highway One near San Simeon. Deputies noticed suspicious activity taking place in an area about a mile north of San Simeon Beach. Deputies had spotted a large motor home, two cargo vans and another vehicle in that area. They followed the vehicles and proceeded to initiate a traffic stop on the motorhome and the car near the junction of highway 46 and highway 101. Several people in the motorhome were detained and a significant amount of marijuana bundled in bales was confiscated. Several others in the car were also detained and a quantity of methamphetamine was confiscated. In the meantime, traffic stops were initiated on the two cargo vans as they were traveling on highway 46, a few miles east of highway one. One van stopped, but the other van led deputies on a short pursuit that ended when the van turned off the highway onto a dirt road and then over a steep embankment where it crashed. One of the three people in that van was hurt. All were taken into custody. The 35 foot panga was discovered about a mile north of San Simeon Beach. Four bales of marijuana were discovered still on the boat. In all, 17 people were taken into custody. Numerous bales of marijuana were confiscated. The Sheriff's Office is in the process of determining how much marijuana was seized.
