Santa Rosa gas station clerk arrested in drug sales case

Sheriff's detectives conducting surveillance arrested a gas station clerk on suspicion of selling drugs at work.

Alejandro Chavez, 27, of Santa Rosa, was booked at the county jail on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine for sale, transportation of drugs and possession of stolen property. His real name may be Jaime Vasquez, according to a Sheriff's press release.

Detectives had been investigating Chavez for the past month as he worked at the Fast Lane Gas & Food Mart at 50 West College Avenue in Santa Rosa, the press release stated.

At about 10 p.m. Sunday, detectives witnessed what they described as "hand-to-hand drug sales." They arrested Chavez and found suspected methamphetamine and marijuana in his possession, along with what were believed to be stolen cellular telephones, credit cards and Social Security cards.

A jail spokeswoman said Tuesday night that Chavez had been released after posting bail of $40,000.