March 15, 2026 – Sonora Police Department officials report that on March 5, 2026, at 10:46 p.m., Officers with the Sonora Police Department located a pickup truck with a registration that had expired by 2 years. The driver, identified as 64-year-old Fred Guthmiller from Sierra Village, was known to have an expired driver’s license. A records check on Fred also uncovered a history of narcotic sales. Officers also identified the passenger as Summer Ward, a 30-year-old Sonora woman with a narcotics history.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, and Ridge conducted a K9 sniff. Ridge alerted to the odor of narcotics. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and drug paraphernalia was located in Ward’s purse, and suspected methamphetamine was located on the dashboard where Ward was sitting. Officers conducted additional searches and located cash and additional controlled substances on Ward.

Guthmiller was arrested and booked into the Tuolumne County jail for Felony possession/purchase for sale of narcotics, Felony transport/sell of narcotics, misdemeanor possession of controlled substances, misdemeanor possession of unlawful paraphernalia, and misdemeanor destruction/concealment of evidence. Ward was also arrested and booked into the Tuolumne County Jail for misdemeanor possession of unlawful paraphernalia.

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