The leader of a downtown homeless encampment was among six people arrested on drug charges at the Veinte de Agosto Park, Tucson police said Thursday night.
Jonathan McLane, 31, was arrested after an investigation by the Tucson Police Department's street narcotics unit, Sgt. Pete Dugan, a police spokesman said Thursday night. McLane was arrested and booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of one count each of marijuana sales, marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The investigation began several weeks ago after police received complaints about the use and sale of marijuana and dangerous drugs in and around the park, Dugan said.
Undercover officers say they made 20 separate purchases of illegal drugs from 12 people in the area, Dugan said.
The drug buys included methamphetamine, marijuana, mushrooms and the prescription pill Xanax, which is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders.
The investigation is continuing and more arrests are expected, Dugan said.
The others arrested on assorted drug charges wereΒ Dustin Ray Jensen, 21; Christopher Beeney, 42; Carlos A. Rodriguez, 40; Zackary Bell, 23; and Nicole Marie Ancheta Coronado, 24, police said.
