Santa Maria Man Arrested for Allegedly Selling Narcotics

After serving a search warrant Tuesday at Johnny’s Smoke Shop on the 1900 block of South Broadway in the City of Santa Maria, Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Narcotics Detectives arrested one employee — Joe Ruben Gonzalez, 26, of Santa Maria — when they discovered suspected methamphetamine, marijuana, ammunition, and “narcotics packaging materials” in his possession, according to a Sherriff’s Office press release.

Another search warrant was served at Gonzalez’s Santa Maria home, where authorities seized more methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Gonzalez was booked into Santa Barbara County Jail with bail set at $35,000 on alleged charges of possession of methamphetamine for sale, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of ammunition as a convicted felon.