Traffic Stop Turns Into Drug Arrest: Sonoma County Sheriff's Office

PETALUMA, CA — Deputies who pulled pulled over a car for speeding in Petaluma said they found methamphetamine, heroin, and drug paraphernalia inside with the help of a K9 dog, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

A deputy pulled over the car at about 7:32 p.m. on Monday at the intersection of North McDowell Boulevard and Old Redwood Highway.

A K9 detected narcotics inside the car, leading to a search.

Deputies found more than a pound of what they suspected to be methamphetamine, heroin, and drug paraphernalia.

Deputies said the driver did not own the drugs and was released. They withheld the driver's name.

The passengers included Joshua Dwyer, 33, of Modesto, Erica Lea, 31, of Oakdale, according to the sheriff's office.

Dwyer was arrested for felony transportation and possession for sale of methamphetamine and for misdemeanor drug paraphernalia possession, the sheriff's office said. He was booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Facility, and later cited and released.

Lea, who has two prior drug possession charges, was arrested and is currently being held without bail, according to the sheriff's office.