Santa Rosa police seize 2.5 pounds of heroin from Petaluma couple

Santa Rosa police detectives seized around 2½ pounds of heroin and arrested a Petaluma couple Tuesday following a five-month investigation into a local drug trafficking ring.

“Two and a half pounds of heroin is a significant amount,” Sgt. Brian Boettger said.

“You don’t generally run into that much.”

Detectives were monitoring Pedro Lopez, 20, at his Petaluma home Tuesday when they saw him, his wife Joann Guzman, 27, and two small children drive away from the house in the 300 block of Stuart Drive, Boettger said.

Lopez had been identified by the narcotics unit after detectives began an investigation into a large-scale heroin trafficking organization operating in and around Sonoma County in July, Boettger said.

Detectives tailed the couple as they drove to shopping centers in Petaluma, Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa, Boettger said.

Detectives believe Lopez and Guzman sold heroin to customers in the parking lots while their kids were in the car, he said.

Santa Rosa police detained the two in a Santa Rosa parking lot as they met with an apparent customer, Boettger said.

Detectives found 2 ounces of heroin on Lopez and 4 ounces of heroin in Guzman’s purse along with $1,400 in cash, he said.

The sergeant would not disclose when detectives began following the couple or when they were detained in Santa Rosa.

Police logs show the two were arrested around 8:30 p.m.

Guzman’s children were taken into protective custody before being released to family member, Boettger said.

Santa Rosa police detectives then served a warrant at the couple’s residence and found 2 pounds of heroin, $1,000 cash, packaging, scales and notes related to drug trafficking, Boettger said.

The street value of the drugs seized is around $20,000, he said.

Lopez and Guzman were booked in Sonoma County Jail on charges of possession of heroin for sale, transportation of heroin, conspiracy to distribute heroin and child endangerment.

Guzman posted $50,000 bail early Wednesday morning. Lopez remained in custody at the county jail Thursday with bail set at $250,000.

You can reach Staff Writer Nick Rahaim at 707-521-5203 or nick.rahaim@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @nrahaim.