Two arrested in Santa Rosa after pulling gun on undercover cop: DA

( KRON ) — Two people who allegedly pulled a gun on an undercover Santa Rosa Police Department officer were arrested on Tuesday, the police department said. The suspects created chaos as they tried to flee the scene.

The undercover officer was part of an operation in which detectives were trying to arrest people involved in drug trafficking.

The officer agreed to meet the traffickers in a parking lot on the 1900 block of Santa Rosa Avenue to buy 10,000 fentanyl pills disguised as oxycodone, police said. The plan was for him to buy the pills, leave the scene and make way for uniformed officers to come in and arrest the suspects.

“As with all undercover operations, contingency plans are implemented if the unexpected happens, as was the case with this operation,” police said.

After a quick conversation with the officer, both suspects took out a gun and pointed it at him. They stole his watch, necklace and cash.

After the theft, marked patrol and undercover cars converged on the scene. The suspects attempted to drive away. At one point, one suspect got out of the car to run away but changed his mind and ran back to the car. He was dragged a short distance and suffered minor injuries, police said.

After multiple collisions, including the suspects intentionally ramming an unmarked car, the suspects’ red Acura became disabled and they were arrested. The whole situation unfolded in about five minutes, SRPD said. No officers were injured.

The suspects were identified as Ulises Vera, 25, of Bakersfield and Manuel Cardenas Jr., 28, of Fresno. They did not possess any drugs. They were arrested for charges including assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and felon in possession of a firearm.

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