Grandma, 70, accused of dealing heroin

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - She may have been a sweet old lady, but Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputies said she was also selling heroin.

Deputies arrested Mary Padilla, 70, Wednesday night, after they said she sold heroin to an undercover informant.

When authorities raided her house on Jupiter Street NW, they found heroin in her purple robe, which was hanging in her bedroom closet.

Detectives said they also found two digital scales.

Neighbor Barbara Goldsmith said that police made a lot of noise, busted down the door and surrounded the house.

"I saw about 5 or 6 vehiclesm they all piled out of cars, some had masks, some had guns, semi-automatic weapons," Goldsmith said.

Goldsmith said she was shocked by the arrest.

"Mary is a wonderful neighbor, she looks after everybody, she helps people when they need it. There's no way Mary could use or be a drug dealer, it's impossible" Goldsmith said.

Padilla has been charged with trafficking a controlled substance. She made her first appearance in court Thursday afternoon. She told detectives the drugs were her son's.