Redlands Men Arrested, Accused of Selling Heroin from Park Picnic Tables Near Clement Middle School

Two Redlands men was arrested Thursday May 16 on suspicion of selling heroin from picnic tables in Community Park close to Clement Middle School, a city spokesman announced Thursday May 30.

Police received a report about alleged drug sales in the park at Church Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, and officers set up surveillance on the location earlier this month, Redlands spokesman Carl Baker said in a statement.

Alleged drug sales took place during school hours, Baker said.

"On Thursday, May 16, officers witnessed 57-year-old Kenneth Lopez and 52-year-old Vincent Victor Gonzales, both of Redlands, packaging and selling heroin from picnic tables in the park," Baker said. The two men were arrested and officers recovered 7.1 grams of heroin."

A search warrant was served at Lopez's house, where police found more evidence, including money from the sale of the drugs, Baker said.

Lopez and Gonzales were arrested on suspicion of possessing narcotics for sale, selling narcotics within 1,000 feet of a school, and conspiracy, Baker said.

Gonzales was held Thursday May 30 at Central Detention Center on $250,000 bail and Lopez was held at Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center on $175,000 bail, according to inmate records.

Anyone with info about suspicious activity was urged to call Redlands police dispatch at (909) 798-7681. Anonymous tipsters can text 274637 using the keyword "REDTIP." Some non-emergency crimes can also be reported online using Redlands PD's CopLogic system at http://ci.redlands.ca.us/police/coplogic/start-report.html.