Carlsbad Residents Arrested in Busted Pot Deal

Four people were in custody Monday for allegedly getting into a drug-related altercation in Temecula, during which one of the combatants used pepper spray.

Cassandra Marie Loreto, 21, Conner James Priest, 19, and Zeke Emilio Whisler, 22 -- all of Carlsbad -- were arrested about 8 p.m. Sunday on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale and conspiracy after a confrontation at Moraga and Rancho California roads, in which area residents subdued the suspects until authorities arrived.

Priest and Whisler were booked into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta, while Loreto was booked into the Robert Presley Jail. All were being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Another suspect, John McCloskey, was arrested at the scene, but there was no record of him being booked into jail.

According to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Terry Jones, Loreto and Whisler met McCloskey and Priest to allegedly sell the pair $750 worth of marijuana.

As Loreto was weighing the contraband in the front seat of her vehicle, Priest and McCloskey attacked her, punching her in the face and dousing her with pepper spray, prompting the woman to attempt to speed away, Jones alleged.

"McCloskey was able to remove the keys from the ignition, preventing Loreto from escaping,"  the sergeant said. "Several bystanders from a nearby apartment complex were able to detain all involved parties until deputies arrived."

A search of the suspects uncovered marijuana, an air soft pistol and a large sum of cash, according to Jones.

No one was hospitalized.