Man sought in Sonora meth bust

Local law enforcement officials are asking for assistance locating a suspected methamphetamine dealer, following the Thursday morning arrest of the suspect’s partner.

Justin Dale Ligon, 29, of the 400 block of Greenley Road, an unemployed parolee, is wanted on suspicion of possession of narcotics for sales, said Tuolumne Narcotics Team Commander Sgt. Craig Davis.
   

TNT arrested Ligon’s girlfriend, Jennifer Jean Rydall, 24, of the 400 block of Greenley Road, on suspicion of felony possession of narcotics for sale, Thursday morning.

Around 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sonora Police Department officers responded to an apart-ment complex on the 400 block of Greenley Road for a reported domestic dispute, Davis said.

Ligon fled the scene before SPD officers arrived, Davis said.    

During their investigation, SPD officers located various items of narcotic contraband and called TNT to take over the investigation.

TNT responded and recovered methamphet-amine, packaging, scales, “pay/owe” sheets and money, Davis said.

TNT seized 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine, with a street value of $1,500, Davis said.

Child Welfare Services also responded to the scene and later took Ligon and Rydall’s two children into protective custody.

CWS and TNT will conduct a drug-endangered children investigation, Davis said.

“The police responded to a domestic violence incident and because of their awareness a large seizure of methamphetamine and possession for sales case was uncovered.

But more importantly, we discovered the situation involving children,” Davis said.

“There are extremely high dangers to children in a home where meth is stored and sold from.”

Ligon is 5 feet 10 inches tall and weights 154 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes.

 Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to contact the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office at 533-5815 or Sonora Police Department at 532-8141.