Yesterday, Antonio Ibarra-Mendoza was arrested in Santa Rosa by the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) Narcotics Team. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale and fulfilling an outstanding arrest warrant for drug sales from 2014, as stated on the SRPD's Facebook post. This operation has helped uncover the strategies of the drug trafficking organization (DTO) he was associated with.

In July, the SRPD Narcotics Team initiated an investigation into a prominent DTO. This DTO, located in Santa Rosa and neighboring areas, operated by using "runners" for the distribution of large quantities of methamphetamine. "Runners," individuals hired to transfer drugs and retrieve money, are often the most susceptible to arrests. They're typically less visible in society and deployed to minimize detection or implication of the DTO's leadership.

During their investigation, the police identified Ibarra-Mendoza as a "runner." Ibarra-Mendoza was already wanted due to an outstanding warrant from Sonoma County related to drug sales in 2014. Yesterday, with the assistance of other patrol officers, the SRPD Narcotics Team executed a search warrant at a location in the 3500 block of Moorland Avenue where Ibarra-Mendoza was detained without any mishaps, as reported by the SRPD's Facebook post.

Following the detention, a comprehensive investigation of the property, residence, and vehicles was undertaken, revealing roughly one pound of suspected methamphetamine packaged for sale. Consequently, Ibarra-Mendoza was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sale and his outstanding felony arrest warrant.