Patrol deputies from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station made 12 drug-related arrests (nine felonies and three misdemeanors) over the weekend, bringing their total for the year to just over 750.

Drug Arrest #750 was made just after 10:30 a.m. Sunday in Newhall Park, when Alberto Cruz, 27, of Newhall was acting suspiciously near one of the park’s vending machines.

A patrol deputy approached Cruz and saw that he was hiding something near one of the windows to a closed concession stand. He also noticed that Cruz was in possession of alcohol.

After detaining Cruz, the deputy located a bag of methamphetamine hidden near the window. He also found drug paraphernalia. Cruz was booked at the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held in lieu of $10,000 bail pending future court proceedings.

“These proactive patrol efforts are an important element of the aggressive new drug prevention strategies we are implementing in the Santa Clarita Valley,” said Captain Paul Becker. “We intend to do everything we can to reduce the prevalence of drugs in our community,” concluded Becker.