Man and granddaughter arrested in dealing drugs

COTTONWOOD HEIGHTS — A man just a month away from his 70th birthday was arrested along with his adult granddaughter Tuesday for investigation of dealing cocaine.

Alfredo Nunez-Carillo, 69, and Maria Castro, 25, were booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. Detectives say they observed Carillo making a drug deal near the busy intersection of Highland Drive (2000 East) and Fort Union Boulevard (7200 South) in front of a McDonald's restaurant.

Carillo had 51 balloons of cocaine on him, worth about $10 per balloon on the street, said Cottonwood Heights police officer Beau Babka.

Babka said if not for a tip to police, Carillo looked like an unassuming elderly man who wouldn't pass as a stereotypical drug dealer. He also did not have any significant prior criminal record in Utah to suggest he was a career criminal, Babka said.

"This is an interesting way of doing it. He's inconspicuous. I'm not sure if it's a trend or just somebody down on their luck trying to make money. But I just can't believe with the amount of drugs he had that this was some little type of thing or someone trying something to get by to buy groceries. There has to be some connection to other things," he said.

Carillo was arrested after detectives watched him allegedly sell drugs to a 20-year-old man. The drug buyer also was being investigated Wednesday.

Police believe Carillo walked along Highland Drive between a couple of businesses, attracting drug buyers of all ages.

Castro, Carillo's granddaughter, drove her grandfather to the restaurant to sell drugs, Babka said.

She was found nearby in her parked car and was arrested.

— Pat Reavy