Crime & Safety

Sonoma Suspect In Child Vape Case Arrested In Rohnert Park

Investigators say a 21-year-old from Sonoma arranged a marijuana vape sale through Snapchat before showing up at a 12-year-old's home.

A Rohnert Park investigation led to the arrest of a Sonoma man accused of attempting to sell a marijuana vape pen to a 12-year-old after communicating through Snapchat and traveling to the child's home.
A Rohnert Park investigation led to the arrest of a Sonoma man accused of attempting to sell a marijuana vape pen to a 12-year-old after communicating through Snapchat and traveling to the child's home. (Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety)

SONOMA, CA — A Sonoma man accused of trying to sell a marijuana vape pen to a 12-year-old was arrested after the child's mother interrupted the meeting, photographed the suspect and his vehicle, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.

The incident began on the morning of July 1, when the department's communications center received a report that a man was attempting to sell a marijuana vape pen to a 12-year-old.

Police said the suspect used Snapchat to arrange the meeting before driving to the 12-year-old's residence in Rohnert Park.

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The sale was interrupted when the child's mother confronted the suspect. Before he fled, she photographed his face and vehicle, providing investigators with information they used to find him.

A Rohnert Park patrol officer relied on law enforcement databases and the department's Flock automated license plate reader system to identify the suspect as Orlando Robledo, 21, of Sonoma.

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Police shared the information with neighboring agencies, and later that evening, a Sonoma County Sheriff's Office deputy located Robledo in the 200 block of Petaluma Avenue in Sonoma.

A Rohnert Park patrol officer arrested Robledo. He was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of selling marijuana to a minor under 14 years old.

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