Santa Rosa couple arrested on suspicion of selling meth from home

A Santa Rosa couple were arrested Thursday on suspicion of selling methamphetamine from their home, where in one of the bedrooms the couple kept their three children, 3 pounds of methamphetamine, about $80,000 and a loaded .380 handgun.

The arrests wrap up a yearlong investigation by the police department’s narcotics unit, said Sgt. Brian Boettger.

Jose Ramirez Ibarra, 37, was stopped and detained as he drove away from his home in the 6400 block Old Redwood Highway. Police said he was carrying a small amount of suspected methamphetamine.

After serving a search warrant at the couple’s home, police detained his wife Reverina Torres-Cruz, 34, and their three children, ages 2, 7, and 9. Boettger said the kids were later released to the custody the Torres-Cruz’s brother.

Boettger said the drugs and money were hidden inside an area of the kids’ bedroom and the handgun was “hanging on a hook in a pouch in a closet.”

Ibarra and Torres-Cruz were taken to Sonoma County Jail and booked on suspicion of possession for sales of meth, conspiracy, maintaining a residence for the purposes of narcotics trafficking and being armed while dealing narcotics.

Police asked anyone with information about the couple to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department 707-543-3600.

-Martin Espinoza