Santa Rosa gang member arrested after discovery of methamphetamine, replica gun in car outside River Rock Casino

A Santa Rosa man affiliated with the Nortenos street gang was arrested Wednesday after he was caught in his car parked at the River Rock Casino in Geyserville with a baggie of methamphetamine and a replica gun, according to authorities.

Jesus Rivas Ramos, 22, of Santa Rosa, was parked in a silver Honda Accord on the third floor of a parking garage at the casino when a Sonoma County sheriff's deputy spotted him in a quiet corner of the garage around 5:15 p.m, Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

Ramos was in the driver's seat and an unidentified passenger was in the car. The deputy spoke with them, then subsequently searched them and the Honda Accord, Crum said.

A baggie of methamphetamine, a replica gun and clothing indicative of the Nortenos gang was found.

Ramos was arrested for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and booked into the Sonoma County Jail. The passenger was not arrested.

Although possession of a replica gun isn't illegal in California, the Sheriff's Office warned it could still traumatize others and cause harm.

'Had this firearm been pointed at one of our Sonoma County citizens, the emotional trauma and fear the victim feels is the same as a real gun. It's still terrifying,' the Sheriff's Office wrote in a Facebook post. 'Hopefully we stopped this gangster before he had the opportunity to use his fake gun to instill real fear.'

You can reach Staff Writer Susan Minichiello at 707-521-5216 or susan.minichiello@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @susanmini.