By Sarah Elizabeth Villicana, The Porterville Recorder
Three people were arrested Wednesday after police served search warrants in two unrelated investigations into drug sales.

Documented Northern gang members Rose Luna, 24, of Porterville and Samuel Rivera, 24, of Visalia, were taken into custody at the conclusion of an investigation in the 300 block of West Morton Avenue, according to a news release from Porterville Police Department.

A search warrant was served by members of Porterville's Special Investigations Unit at about 7 a.m. Detectives had a felony arrest warrant for Luna relating to possession of methamphetamine. Rivera, who was identified by police as a wanted parolee, was detained during the search along with Luna.

During a search of the residence, detectives located suspected methamphetamine, ammunition and Northern gang paraphernalia.

Luna and Rivera were arrested on allegations of possessing a controlled substance and being convicted felons in possession of ammunition. Rivera was booked at the Tulare County Sheriff's Department Porterville Substation and is being held without bail. Luna was booked at the Sheriff's Department in Visalia and is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Later in the day, Porterville SIU served a second warrant at a residence in the 1700 block of North Newcomb Street.

Porterville resident Steve Minnick, 53, was wanted on a felony arrest warrant for sales of marijuana, police stated. During a search of the premises, detectives were able to find more than one pound of suspected marijuana. It was packaged for sales and additional packaging materials and paraphernalia was also seized. The street value of the suspected marijuana was estimated at $400. Minnick was booked at the Sheriff's Porterville Substation for suspicion of sales and possession of marijuana. He is being held in lieu of $70,000.

Contact Sarah Villicana at 784-5000, Ext. 1045, or svillicana@portervillerecorder.com.

This story was published in The Porterville Recorder on Dec. 29, 2006