South Sac Traffic Stop Near 24th And John Still Explodes Into Guns And Fentanyl Bust

What began as a routine traffic stop in south Sacramento quickly escalated into a chase through a neighborhood, a brief foot pursuit and five arrests, according to city police.

On May 11, officers tried to pull over a vehicle near 24th Street and John Still Drive. Police say the driver took off, leading officers to a nearby residential court where the car finally stopped. Two rear passengers bolted from the vehicle and ran, while the driver and two other occupants stayed put and were detained. Officers say they recovered a large quantity of suspected fentanyl, multiple firearms and several thousand dollars in cash.

In a June 11 post on X from the Sacramento Police Department, officials said that after the vehicle fled the attempted traffic stop, officers set up a perimeter around the area. According to the post, the two rear passengers ran into nearby yards and were later found hiding. Police noted that one of them had been seen clutching his waistband, a red flag for officers that someone might be armed. The department also said officers detained the driver and the two passengers who stayed in the vehicle and found evidence consistent with narcotics sales.

Arrests And Evidence Recovered

In the social media post, the Sacramento Police Department identified four adults and one juvenile: 25-year-old Joe Martinez of Woodland, 25-year-old Agustin Ribota of Sacramento, 19-year-old Alejandro Velasquez of Sacramento and 21-year-old Exavier Martinez of Yuba City, along with a 15-year-old juvenile. Officers reported seizing more than 100 grams of suspected fentanyl, along with two firearms that were illegally possessed inside the vehicle. A third firearm and additional suspected narcotics were found in the area where the two passengers had run. Police also said they confiscated several thousand dollars in cash and other items they describe as indicators of narcotics sales, information that was detailed by the Sacramento Police Department.

Why The Fentanyl Haul Matters

The amount of suspected fentanyl involved, more than 100 grams, is not small change in the eyes of federal law. A Congressional Research Service overview notes that federal penalties for fentanyl kick in at relatively low thresholds. A mixture containing 40 grams of fentanyl can trigger a five-year mandatory minimum sentence, and higher quantities can bring significantly tougher penalties, a benchmark that has also been referenced in cases and guidance from the DEA.

What Happens Next

Police said the five individuals were arrested on allegations related to the pursuit, suspected narcotics sales, conspiracy and weapons offenses. Specific booking details and court dates were not immediately released. According to the department, cases like this are logged in its daily activity reports while prosecutors review the evidence and decide what formal charges to file. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Sacramento police, and the incident is listed in the Sacramento Police Department daily activity log.