On June 24, detectives arrested a Santa Rosa man for possession and sales of heroin and methamphetamine.
Detectives in the Property and Narcotics Unit had been investigating a man suspected of selling large amounts of heroin and methamphetamine. They obtained a search warrant for the suspect, his house, and his vehicles. The suspect, Terry Ridout, 48 years old of Santa Rosa, was out on bail for three separate but similar drug trafficking cases from two other law enforcement agencies in the county.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., deputies and detectives contacted Ridout during a traffic stop on Todd Road, Santa Rosa. He was driving a rental pickup truck and they had him get out of the truck to search it. They used K9 Scout to search the vehicle for drugs using his sense of smell; Scout is specially trained to sniff out drugs. Scout alerted to drugs in the truck, so deputies and detectives began searching it. They found just over 1 pound of methamphetamine and approximately 3/4 pounds of heroin hidden in various locations and packages in the truck. They also found over $6,400 dollars in cash, a digital scale, pepper spray, and unused packaging materials.
Ridout became agitated and started yelling during the search. Deputies tried to calm him down by talking to him and placed him in a patrol car, secured him with a seatbelt, and monitored his behavior. He remained agitated and began banging his body against the inside of the car, causing a cut to his head. Medical personnel from American Medical Response evaluated him and determined he needed treatment at the hospital. He received medical treatment before being booked into jail.
Detectives also searched Ridout’s vehicles and house in the 700 block of Pressley Street, Santa Rosa, per the search warrant that afternoon. They found an additional 1.5 pounds of methamphetamine, multiple digital scales, and illegal prescription pills.
Ridout was booked at the Sonoma County jail for felony possession and transportation for sales of methamphetamine, felony possession and transportation for sales of heroin, and possession of pepper spray by a felon. Due to Ridout’s multiple pending cases, detectives requested a bail enhancement which was granted and set at $500,000 by a judge. Ridout remains in custody.
Prepared by: Misti D. Wood, Community Engagement Liaison
Case no: 190624-017
Media Inquiries: 707-565-3941
