Fresno Deputy Police Chief Keith Foster was among four people arrested on federal drug charges, including conspiracy to distribute oxycodone and heroin.
Foster, 51, who oversaw patrol operations for the department’s four police districts, was arrested for conspiracy to distribute and/or possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone, heroin and marijuana. He has been put on paid administrative leave, Police Chief Jerry Dyer said.
Foster and five others were named in the federal criminal complaint.
Also arrested were Rafael Guzman, 41, who is charged with conspiring with Foster to distribute and/or possess with the intent to distribute heroin; Randy Flowers, 48, conspiring to distribute and/or possess with the intent to distribute oxycodone; and Jennifer Donebedian, 35, conspiring to distribute and/or possess with the intent to distribute marijuana. They will appear in federal court on Friday.
Federal agents made one arrest shortly before 2 p.m. at Nielsen and Tielman avenues in front of Pershing Continuation High School. Central Unified School District spokeswoman Melinda Gonsalves said Pershing was locked down from 1:50 p.m. to 2:10 p.m.
Warrants are out for two other suspects, Iran Dennis “Denny” Foster and Sarah Ybarra.