Alleged Sonoma County Heroin Dealers — Husband & Wife — Arrested

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Santa Rosa police Tuesday arrested a Petaluma man and his wife on suspicion of dealing heroin in Santa Rosa and surrounding Sonoma County communities. Pedro Lopez, 20, and Joann Guzman, 27, were taken into custody after detectives allegedly witnessed them meeting suspected customers at shopping centers in Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa.

According to a statement from the Santa Rosa Police Department, narcotics detectives began investigating possible drug trafficking by a Sonoma County resident in July. Lopez was identified as a suspect whom detectives believed was part of a large-scale heroin drug trafficking ring in the area.

On Tuesday, detectives conducted surveillance on Lopez at his Petaluma residence at 330 Stuart Drive, Unit K. Lopez, Guzman and two young children were observed getting into a vehicle and driving away from the residence, police said.

It is alleged that the couple then drove to nearby shopping centers in Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa, where, based on observations made by detectives, police allege Lopez and Guzman were meeting and selling narcotics to customers in parking lots.

As the couple was allegedly observed meeting with a potential customer at a Santa Rosa shopping center, detectives moved in and detained the pair as well as the customer. In that parking lot, Lopez was allegedly found in possession of about 2 ounces of heroin. Guzman allegedly had in her purse another 4 ounces of suspected heroin and more than $1,400 in cash, police said.

Guzman’s children were temporarily taken into protective custody before released to family members, police said.

Detectives returned to serve a search warrant at the couple's Petaluma residence and allegedly found approximately 2 pounds of heroin, $1,000 in cash and evidence of packaging, scale and notes related to drug trafficking, police said.

Both Guzman and Lopez were both booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of possession of heroin for sale, transportation of heroin and conspiracy to distribute heroin, police said.

Lopez was being held in lieu of at least $250,000 bail, Sonoma County jail records showed Wednesday.

Booking information was not immediately available for Guzman.

Santa Rosa police are continuing their investigation and ask anyone with pertinent information to call 707-543-3600.

Booking photo via Sonoma County Sheriff's Office website