24 Students Arrested After Drug Investigation At Riverside County High Schools

MENIFEE (CBSLA.com) — More than 20 students at Perris and Paloma Valley high schools have been arrested on narcotic-related warrants following a long-term undercover drug investigation.

Riverside County sheriff's deputies say they seized illegal narcotics including marijuana, cocaine, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, hashish and various types of prescription pills while looking into concerns juvenile students were selling illicit drugs on the campuses.

Undercover officers posing as students say they identified a total of 23 juveniles and two adult students between the two schools that were involved in the illegal drug sales.

The investigation was concluded on Thursday with 24 arrests.

Twenty-two juveniles were processed at the Perris Station and were offered counseling services. They were later transported to Juvenile Hall where they were booked for the outstanding warrants.

Two adult students, Serina Ramirez, 18, and Erick De La Cruz, 19, were arrested at Perris High School for narcotics sales and transported to the Southwest Detention Center for booking.

Perris-Union High School District Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Greenberg said he agreed to the undercover operation in August and was informed Thursday morning arrests would be made.

"We think those schools - both of them are great schools, and unfortunately these students were bringing those schools down in our opinion," he said.

The Southwest Corridor Narcotics Task Force, West County Narcotics Task Force, the Riverside County Regional Gang Task Force, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office and the Perris and Menifee Police Departments assisted the Riverside County Sheriff's Department with the arrests.

In addition to possible criminal charges, the students could also face expulsion.