Five individuals were taken into custody at a motel on Union Avenue after Bakersfield Police allegedly discovered drugs, over $14,000 in cash, and a firearm.
The arrests occurred on Friday, January 23, 2026, at the Sunland Motel, according to the Bakersfield Police Department.
Those arrested include 60-year-old Chuck Bibb, 34-year-old Sandra Slaydon, 21-year-old Esteban Valdivia, 24-year-old Victor Mora, and 32-year-old Pedro Cabrales. All face various narcotics and firearm charges and were booked into the Lerdo Detention Facility.
BPD’s Impact Unit investigated reports that multiple individuals were distributing illegal drugs from the motel at 1000 South Union Avenue. Surveillance revealed that three motel rooms were being used to sell narcotics, primarily targeting the homeless population.
With assistance from the Violent Criminal Apprehension Team (VCAT), officers executed a search warrant at the motel, seizing approximately $14,251 in cash, half a pound of suspected fentanyl, several ounces of crystal meth, cocaine base, and a gun.
In a statement, the department emphasized, “The Bakersfield Police Department remains committed to working collaboratively to suppress the distribution of illegal narcotics, particularly those targeting the homeless population. These coordinated enforcement efforts are essential to enhancing community safety and protecting vulnerable individuals while addressing quality-of-life concerns throughout the City of Bakersfield.”