Menifee men arrested on drug charges, outstanding warrants

Four Menifee men were among six suspects arrested Sept. 12 at a local residence on charges including possession of narcotics, possession of stolen property and outstanding warrants, authorities said.

The incident began at 6 p.m. when motorcycle officers assigned to the Menifee Police Department Traffic Division were conducting patrol in the area of Avenida De Fiesta and Park Avenue in the Rustlers Ranch community in Menifee, according to a Sheriff's Department news release. The patrol was in response to complaints of traffic violations and suspicious activity in the area.

In conducting a pedestrian check near a residence on Avenida De Fiesta, officers discovered about six grams of suspected heroin. Multiple subjects were contacted at the residence and the following were arrested:

-- Jason Jensen, 44, of Menifee was arrested for possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.

-- Theodore Manta, 64, of Menifee was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and outstanding misdemeanor warrants.

-- Jesus Corona, 27, of Indio was arrested for obstructing an officer.

-- Thomas Minnear, 20, of Menifee was arrested for possession of narcotics, and for outstanding warrants.

-- Cameron Blaze, 20, of Menifee was arrested for outstanding warrants.

Further investigation led police to Murrieta, where a stolen vehicle associated with the case was located. Theodore Tilton, 36, of Murrieta was arrested for possession of stolen property and possession of a stolen vehicle by officers from the Murrieta Police Department.

Minnear entered not guilty pleas in a Murrieta courtroom Tuesday to additional felony charges, which include possession of a controlled substance, first degree residential burglary, second degree burglary, receiving stolen property and maliciously defacing property, plus five misdemeanor charges. He is being held with bail set at $25,000 and has a Sept. 27 date for a felony settlement conference.

Manta faces 16 misdemeanor counts and is being held at Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside with bail set at $100,000. He has a Nov. 19 court date.

Tilton has a Sept. 24 court date in Murrieta to answer five felony charges. He is being held without bail at Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.

Jensen was released Sept. 13 and Corona was cited and released Sept. 12, jail records show. Blaze was cited and released Sept. 12.

The Menifee Police Department asks anyone with additional information to contact the Menifee Police Department at 951-210-1000.