Briefs Massive Drug Bust in Isla Vista Two Men Arrested With 5.5 Ounces of Cocaine, 49 Ecstasy Pills, and 40 Mystery Pills

Two men were arrested in Isla Vista over the weekend after authorities found a substantial amount of drugs in an apartment at 6631 Picasso Road, according to the Santa Barbara Regional Narcotic Enforcement Team (SBRNET). Dalton Turney and Razel Tarantino, both 21, were each charged with possession of controlled substances for sale and conspiracy and were subsequently booked into Santa Barbara County Jail at $300,000 bail and $20,000 bail, respectively. Chris Nyvold, a commander with SBRNET, said both men made bail and were released. Their arraignment date has yet to be determined.

Early in the morning of October 26, SBRNET agents served a warrant and searched the apartment, where they found approximately 5.5 ounces of cocaine, 49 ecstasy pills, and about 40 pills of a drug that has yet to be identified. The agents believe that Turney — an Isla Vista resident and SBCC student — and Tarantino — who lives in Woodland Hills, near Los Angeles — planned to sell the drugs to college students.

The press release from SBRNET also noted the October 26 death of 22-year-old UCSB student Brandon Schmidt. Nyvold said that Schmidt’s death — which the Sheriff’s Department is investigating, with toxicology results not expected for several weeks — was only included alongside the drug bust information because it happened on the same day.

SBRNET is a collaboration between several different law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Investigation; the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Office; the UCSB Police Department; and the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office.

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