Two brothers suspected of dealing heroin out of their Hemet home and on the street were each being held Wednesday in lieu of $30,000 bail.
David Washington, 59, and Stephen Leon Washington, 62, were arrested Tuesday on suspicion of possession of controlled substances, possession of drugs for sale and being convicted felons in possession of firearms and ammunition. David Washington was booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta, while his elder sibling was booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside.
According to Hemet police Lt. Eric Dickson, officers encountered the older of the two suspects about 10 a.m. Tuesday after they were called to the 1800 block of Florida Avenue to investigate trespassing complaints.
Dickson said a business owner had asked several transients to move their temporary encampment away from his outlet, but they had refused and were seen with drug paraphernalia, prompting the merchant to call 911.
While walking around the camp, officers spotted two people in a car, one of whom was “in the process of preparing narcotics for ingestion,” the lieutenant said.
The individuals were immediately detained, and the driver — Stephen Washington — was allegedly found with “a large amount of heroin” in his pockets, Dickson alleged.
The passenger, whose identity was not disclosed, was cited and permitted to leave on the condition that he promise to make a court appearance in 60 days. According to Dickson, detectives then obtained a search warrant and served it at Washington’s residence in the 200 block of Ramona Street, where they encountered David Washington.
“Detectives located additional narcotics, several firearms, a large amount of cash and evidence connecting both brothers to the sales of narcotics,” Dickson alleged.
According to court records, Stephen Washington has prior convictions for theft and possession of controlled substances. Records showed David Washington has priors, but they were not listed.