Man arrested on drug charges

BONNERS FERRY — A man is being charged with felony possession of a controlled substance after a large amount of marijuana was discovered in a safe at his place of residence.

State Probation & Parole Officer Ron Pell, with assistance from Bonners Ferry Police Officer Brandon Blackmore, was performing a probation check on Luis Lorca-Merono III, 30, on Jan. 10.

According to the sheriff’s report, upon entering the residence, Blackmore found a container of what was later tested to be marijuana in plain view on the entertainment center.

Lorca-Merono’s girlfriend allegedly claimed that it belonged to her and when she was arrested she declined the offer to take her cell phone with her.

Boundary County Sheriff’s Deputy Bob Elam, also called in to assist, wrote in his report that the cell phone was face up on the couch and he observed a message from Lorca-Merono that “said something to the effect that he needed to smoke a lot so that we wouldn’t think he was selling drugs.”

According to the Sheriff’s report, while Pell was performing his duties as a probation officer, he discovered a large floor safe located where a forced air furnace would have been located, with a cabinet on top of it. In the cabinet was a large bowl of leafy green substance that was later field tested positive for marijuana.

Pell was unable to make contact with Lorca-Merono at the time and the items found were booked into Boundary County Sheriff’s Office evidence, according to the report.

Blackmore was later granted a search warrant to investigate the contents of the safe, where he found multiple bags of marijuana averaging 4.8 oz. each, marijuana seeds, and drug related paraphernalia.

Lorca-Merono is being charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor for drug paraphernalia. He is scheduled to appear in court for his preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. March 8, and his bond has been set at $70,000.