Fresno City Council District 1 candidate Naindeep Singh Chann was arrested on suspicion of a drug-related DUI on Saturday, October 24, 2026, according to a law enforcement source cited by The San Joaquin Valley Sun. The arrest lands just over a week before Singh is set to face Rob Fuentes in the November runoff for the seat.
According to The San Joaquin Valley Sun, Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz confirmed the arrest to independent reporter David Taub, saying his office had been notified that Singh “was arrested and taken into custody for driving under the influence of a substance last night near the Tower District.” A separate account from Independent in the Field similarly placed the arrest near the Tower District and reported that Singh consented to a blood test and was taken to Community Regional Medical Center, located in downtown Fresno, for testing. By contrast, The Fresno Bee reported that authorities had not disclosed where Singh was arrested or what prompted the traffic stop.
Janz said he would defer further questions to the Fresno Police Department, which is investigating the alleged offense, per the Sun's reporting. The Fresno Police Department did not respond to the Sun's request for comment, though the department did confirm Singh's arrest to GV Wire's reporting. Singh was not booked into the county jail and was instead released to a family member, according to a source cited by the station.
Blood Test Results Still Pending
Janz told the Sun that Singh “was transported to a local hospital for testing,” and as of Sunday night Singh was still awaiting the blood test results, per the same reporting. A toxicology report identifying what drug he allegedly used remained pending, according to GV Wire. No further details about the traffic stop that led to the arrest have been disclosed.
Singh, 48, is executive director of the Jakara Movement and has served as a Central Unified School District trustee since 2018, according to Fresno Bee. He is running to replace outgoing Councilmember Annalisa Perea, who is seeking a seat in the state Assembly, per GV Wire's reporting.
A Rematch Already Underway Before the Arrest
Singh and Fuentes, who both also serve on local school boards, are facing off for a second time this November, according to Fresnoland. Fuentes has served on the State Center Community College District board since 2022, the outlet reports. Singh finished first in the June 2026 primary with 4,535 votes, about 38.69 percent, while Fuentes took roughly 36.52 percent; both candidates advanced to the November runoff, according to Fresnoland and GV Wire's earlier coverage of the race ahead of the Nov. 3 election.
Following news of the arrest, Fuentes called on Singh to immediately withdraw from the City Council race, according to Independent in the Field. A law enforcement source cited by Independent in the Field said more information about the arrest was expected Monday, though full details had not yet emerged as of this writing.
