Major Drug Supplier Suspect Arrested

Santa Barbara Police Department released the following information:

A two-week narcotics investigation culminated with the arrest of Hernan Lizardo Gutierrez, age 32, of Ventura, for possession of cocaine for sale, transportation of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine for sale, and transportation of methamphetamine.

Gutierrez was a major supplier of illegal drugs in the City of Santa Barbara. Large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and cash were seized during this operation.

In mid-October 2013 detectives from the Santa Barbara Police Department’s Narcotics Unit initiated an investigation into Gutierrez’s narcotics activities.

The investigation resulted in Gutierrez being contacted during a traffic stop on 200 W. Haley Street at 8:50 a.m. on October 30, 2013.

Gutierrez was found to be in possession of two ounces of cocaine and an ounce of methamphetamine and was subsequently arrested. Detectives served a search warrant at Gutierrez’s residence on the 200 block of N. Garden Street in Ventura and found significant quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and cash.

A 9mm pistol and a kilo press were also discovered.

A kilo press is a device used in the packaging of narcotics to compress drugs into rectangular shaped bricks approximately one kilogram in weight.

In total, approximately 3 pounds of cocaine, 1.3 pounds of methamphetamine, and over $90,000.00 in cash were seized. The value of the drugs is in excess of $40,000.00.

Gutierrez was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on the aforementioned charges with a bail amount of $100,000.00.