2 arrested for drugs, kids in protective custody

QUINCY - Two people were arrested and four children placed in protective custody after Grant County's Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET) busted a marijuana growing operation in Quincy.

According to the sheriff's office, neighbors noticed people making short visits at all hours of the day at a home at 5 B Street NE in Quincy. The activity was brought to the attention of officers.

The tips led to a six-month investigation by INET and several undercover purchases of marijuana were made, according to information released Friday. The home is within 1,000 feet of Mountain View Elementary School.

About 1:30 p.m. Thursday, INET detectives and Quincy police raided the Quincy home, finding almost 60 grams of processed marijuana, seven live marijuana plants, prescription pills, two loaded handguns and more than $4,000 in cash in the home and vehicles on the property, according to reports. The serial number was also defaced on one of the handguns.

Investigators seized the items and two vehicles as evidence and the growing operation inside the home was dismantled.

Luis Carlos Perez, 26, and Marial Del Carmen Farias, 31, were arrested and four children who were living in the home are in custody of Child Protective Services, according to the sheriff's office.

"The safety and welfare of the children who live at this home was our greatest concern," Sheriff Tom Jones said. "INET did a great job protecting four children by stopping the drug business conducted out of their home and moving those kids to a safe environment."

The two suspects were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, manufacturing marijuana with intent to deliver, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, altering identifying marks on a firearm and possession of drug paraphernalia.

If convicted, charges with school zone enhancements require an additional mandatory two-year sentence. Two of the charges had school zone enhancements.

INET is comprised of detectives from the Grant County Sheriff's Office, Quincy Police Department, Moses Lake Police Department and the State Patrol.