LAKEPORT, Calif. – An undercover operation by narcotics detectives that lasted more than a month led to the arrest in early February of a Lakeport man.

Noe Reyes Gutierrez, 41, was arrested on Feb. 3, according to a Friday report from Capt. Chris Macedo of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Macedo said that beginning in late December 2011, Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force detectives began working an undercover operation into possible sales of methamphetamine by Gutierrez, who was working as a landscaper.

On Dec. 29 Gutierrez traveled to Yuba City and sold an undercover detective approximately one ounce of methamphetamine for $1,300, Macedo reported.

On Jan. 27, Gutierrez again met with the undercover detective, this time in the Walmart parking lot in Clearlake, and sold the detective approximately one ounce of methamphetamine for $1,200, according to Macedo.

Then, on Feb. 2, detectives conducted surveillance on Gutierrez, who Macedo said arranged to meet with the undercover detective to sell two more ounces of methamphetamine.  

Gutierrez met with the undercover detective and stated that the two ounces of methamphetamine would be ready the following day, Macedo said.

Detectives with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force obtained a warrant for Gutierrez’s arrest, as well as a search warrant authorizing a search of Gutierrez’s person, home and vehicles, according to Macedo.

On Feb. 3, Narcotics Task Force members contacted Gutierrez and arrested him for the warrant. Macedo said the detectives also served the search warrant and located ammunition, a small quantity of marijuana and a glass pipe commonly used for ingesting methamphetamine.  

Gutierrez remains in custody with $200,000 bail on several counts of violation of Health and Safety Code section 11379, transportation or sales of a controlled substance.

Anyone with information that can assist the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Task Force is encouraged to call the Narcotics Anonymous Tip Line at 707-263-3663.