Deputies: Marijuana stashed in toddler's room; cocaine, heroin, found in garage

DELTONA, Fla. — A man was arrested Thursday at a Volusia County home on charges of distributing cocaine, heroin and marijuana, deputies said.

Volusia County sheriff’s investigators obtained a warrant for the arrest of Jose Ramon Hidalgo, 42, after receiving complaints of drug sales out of the Deltona home on Leeward Drive.

The investigation began in October with a tip, and investigators started covertly monitoring the home.

As Hidalgo was being handcuffed, a woman and two children were brought out of the house to a couch in the garage, deputies said.

Authorities said they found about 5 ½ pounds of marijuana packaged in vacuum-sealed bags inside a toddler’s bedroom closet. In a backpack at the bottom of the closet, they found three digital scales and six glass mason jars of marijuana, deputies said.

Investigators said they found three loaded firearms and $1,100 cash in the master bedroom, and more large bags of marijuana, along with smaller bags packaged for sale inside an attached garage.

Deputies said they also found a cooler containing bundles of cash totaling $60,000, plus two grams of heroin and 16 grams of cocaine packaged in small bags for sale.

Hidalgo was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Hidalgo was taken to the Volusia County Branch Jail and released early Thursday morning after posting $18,000 bail.

Cox Media Group