March 5, 2026 – Sonora Police Department officials report that on February 25, 2026, at 10:45 p.m., officers with the Sonora Police Department stopped a red Mazda pickup truck for an equipment violation. Officers contacted the driver, soon identified as a 36-year-old Sonora man, Russell Garcia.

While investigating, K9 Ridge conducted a sniff of the vehicle and showed positive signs of narcotics inside. Officers soon discovered methamphetamine on Garcia.

Garcia was taken into custody and booked into the Tuolumne County Jail. Garcia had prior convictions for possession of a controlled substance.

Health and Safety Code 11395(b)(1), enacted via Proposition 36, makes it a “Treatment-Mandated Felony” to possess hard drugs (fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine) if the defendant has two or more prior convictions for specified drug offenses.

It’s important to remember that the individuals mentioned in this report were arrested based on suspicion of the crimes they’ve been charged with. All such charges are mere allegations, and all defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty.

Source: Sonora Police Department