Unusual Discovery Made While SDPD, FBI Search Home

Shrines To Patron Saint Of Drug Traffickers Found Inside

POSTED: 8:35 am PDT August 10, 2011
UPDATED: 2:41 pm PDT August 10, 2011

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego police and local FBI officials made an unusual discovery Wednesday morning while serving a search warrant at a home in the Mountain View area.

At about 6:30 a.m., while officers were serving the warrant, a man jumped out of a window of the home located on South 39th Street and Ocean View Boulevard, authorities said.

Police arrested the man, who had an outstanding warrant, as he attempted to run from the scene. Police said he was not the person they were looking for.

A second man who rents a room in the home was questioned and released.
SDPD officers contacted the FBI to assist because the home and people involved are connected to some the FBI already has in custody.
Police said inside the home they found three shrines honoring Jesus Malverde, also known as the "patron saint" of drug traffickers.

According to local legends, Malverde was considered a Mexican "Robin Hood" who stole from the rich to give to the poor.. Local legends say the Mexican government executed Malverde in 1909, and after his death, admirers say miracles began to occur in his hometown of Culiacan.
The Catholic Church said Malverde is most certainly not a saint. They said thieves and drug dealers created that image.

FBI agents and SDPD officers would not comment on who or what they were looking for inside the home.

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