A quiet stretch of Skyline Boulevard turned into the scene of a major drug bust yesterday, after San Mateo County sheriff’s deputies pulled over a car in the Peninsula hills and ended up arresting two people on multiple felony allegations tied to suspected fentanyl.
Deputies said the pre-dawn stop near Skyline Boulevard and Bunker Hill Drive, just above the Crystal Springs Reservoir, led to the discovery of more than 100 grams of suspected fentanyl, hundreds of suspected fentanyl pills, an imitation firearm and over $5,000 in cash. The driver and passenger were taken to Maguire Correctional Facility and booked on a slate of felony counts.
As reported by The Mercury News, deputies stopped the vehicle at about 1 AM yesterday near the Skyline and Bunker Hill intersection after deeming it suspicious. Once at the car, they said they could see drug paraphernalia inside, which gave them cause to search the vehicle.
Patch reports that the search turned up more than 100 grams of suspected fentanyl packaged in multiple containers, along with hundreds of suspected fentanyl pills, additional drug paraphernalia, an imitation firearm and more than $5,000 in cash. According to Patch, the driver was identified as 40-year-old David C. Dutton of San Francisco and the passenger as 55-year-old Alexis Coombs of Stockton. Both were booked into Maguire Correctional Facility on allegations that include possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance for sale, a fentanyl weight enhancement and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Why that quantity is dangerous
The Drug Enforcement Administration notes that fentanyl is roughly 50 times more potent than heroin and about 100 times more potent than morphine, and that even milligram-sized amounts can be lethal. That means seizures measured in grams can translate into many potentially deadly doses. The DEA’s factsheet lays out the drug’s potency and the public-safety risks tied to illicit fentanyl in more detail.
Local context
San Mateo County has been confronting the fallout from illicit fentanyl for months. In a separate case, investigators linked an in-custody death last September to fentanyl and forwarded that matter to the district attorney’s office, a reminder that the crisis is not just a distant headline. Sheriff’s investigators say they have repeatedly intercepted fentanyl during traffic stops and in jail-related incidents as they work to slow the drug’s spread.
Charges and custody
Investigators say the driver had active warrants connected to drug sales, and that both people arrested in Tuesday’s stop remain in custody at Maguire Correctional Facility while the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office reviews the case. Patch notes that deputies booked the pair on multiple felony allegations and that the investigation is still ongoing. Prosecutors will decide whether to file formal charges based on the evidence seized during the stop.
How to tip authorities
According to The Mercury News and the sheriff’s office, anyone with information related to the case can contact investigators directly. The San Mateo County Sheriff’s anonymous tip line is listed on the agency’s website. Tips, video or other evidence from around Skyline Boulevard and Bunker Hill Drive could help as deputies and prosecutors continue to review the incident.
