Motel Manager Arrested in Alice Drug Bust - KRIS Corpus Christi News

ALICE - Five people are behind bars after Alice police got a tip that drug dealing was happening at a motel.

We're told by police some of those arrested are known gang members. And this is just the latest effort to end gang violence in Alice.

One of those arrested was the manager of the motel, and it also appears that the operation was a family affair.

1.5 ounces of marijuana, 44 grams of cocaine, and $2,050 in what's believed to be drug money. That's what police found at the Hi Way Motel located at 104 North Johnston, Saturday night.

When police arrived at the motel, they tell us they saw several men outside. One man ran into room number 17, the others, inside the main office.

It was in those two rooms police found the drugs.

Police arrested Jose Cantu, brothers Jimmy Alaniz and Joey Alaniz, their step brother, Javier Perez, and their mother Sylvia Garcia. Garcia also happens to be the manager of the motel.

Police also took Perez's cell phone, which they say had several text massages asking about the drugs.

We went to the motel to try and get some answers, but no one wanted to speak to us.

However, we did find out some information just across the street.

Rayena Galbraith's husband owns performance transmission across from the motel.

When we asked if she thought drugs were being used at the Hi Way Montel, she says, "Oh yes, everybody knows it. Everybody in this town knows it. You can watch them pull in there day and night. Go in there get their stuff, and go on to their jobs. And it's really sad."

Galbriath added that they have had problems with the guests of Hi Way Motel before, so you can only imagine her joy when she heard about the arrests.

Galbriath says, "I say way to go. That's awesome. I am glad to see it's happening and hopefully we will get someone in there better, that's going to stop this stuff in the future."

All five were charged with possession of a controlled substance.

Police told us two children were also at the motel at the time of the arrest. They are currently with family members, but Child Protective Services was told about what happened.