On Saturday August 23, 2014 at approximately 7:00 PM, a Sonoma County Deputy Sheriff was patrolling Larson Park in Sonoma. There have been multiple gang related disturbances and arrests in Larson Park over the last few weeks, to include a shooting, narcotics arrests and incidents of gang vandalism. In response, Deputies have increased security checks.
The Deputy saw a car at the far end of the parking lot. There was a man leaning into the car through the window and seemed to be engaged in conversation with someone inside it. He stopped his patrol car far behind the car and noted it had expired registration.
As the Deputy walked up to contact the car, he saw a man in the car in the driver’s seat. He engaged both of them in conversation. The man standing outside the car explained that he came to the park to rest and encountered his friend so they started talking.
The man inside the car appeared to be trying to conceal something in his hand and both men were acting very suspiciously. The Deputy asked for their respective IDs. When the man standing outside the car provided his ID, the Deputy noticed the subject had a tiny white bundle that he was trying to hide between his fingers. The subject was identified as Pedro Gonzalez Pulido, 41 years old of Sonoma.
As the Deputy stepped closer to the car to obtain the driver’s identification, he saw a bag typically used in the packaging of methamphetamine as well as cash alongside the driver’s seat. When the Deputy asked the man to get out of the car, the man dropped a tiny white baggy containing a gritty substance. The driver was identified as Humberto Gutierrez Lopez, 41 years of Boyes Hot Springs.
Pulido and Lopez were detained as they were likely engaged in some sort of narcotics transaction. During a search of the vehicle additional baggies of drugs and a digital scale were discovered, as well as two active cell phones. The Deputy also found a loaded 9mm pistol under the driver’s seat.
The Deputy believed Pulido was possibly under the influence of a controlled substance, specifically a stimulant, and after a series of tests, he was arrested. Lopez was likely inside the park, selling drugs and carrying the pistol for protection during his transactions.
Lopez was arrested and booked into county jail for three felonies: possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a controlled substance while armed, and carrying a loaded firearm. His bail was set at $35,000 and he is scheduled to be arraigned in court on Tuesday, August 26, 2014.
Pulido was arrested for loitering a public place for illegal drug activity and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Both are misdemeanors. He was booked into county jail and after posting the $5,000 bail, he was released. He will be in court on Monday, September 15, 2014.
# 140823-032
Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations / PIO
