LOS ANGELES, CA – A 28-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing ketamine for sale after deputies stopped his vehicle in West Hollywood around midnight Oct. 24, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department West Hollywood Station.
Deputies stopped the driver for an equipment violation in the 1000 block of North Fairfax Avenue, the station said. During the stop, they found four small baggies of suspected ketamine in the vehicle, along with about $200 in cash believed to be tied to drug sales.
After the arrest, a search of the driver turned up two more bags of suspected ketamine, the station said. That brought the total to six bags.
Sheriff’s booking records list the man as Cristian Lancheros, 28. He was booked at the West Hollywood Station at 12:54 a.m. Oct. 25 and was cited and released pending formal charges from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
An arrest is not a conviction, and the allegations remain subject to the criminal court process.
Traffic stop on North Fairfax Avenue
The stop began as a routine enforcement stop for an equipment violation. The station did not describe the violation in the information it shared with reporters.
The 1000 block of North Fairfax Avenue is in West Hollywood, which is served by the Sheriff’s Department’s West Hollywood Station.
Four bags and cash found in the vehicle
Deputies recovered four small baggies of suspected ketamine from inside the vehicle during the stop. They also found roughly $200 in cash that they believe is associated with drug sales.
The station described the substance as suspected ketamine. It did not say how the substance was identified at the scene.
Two more bags found on the driver
The driver was arrested at the scene. A search after the arrest found two additional bags of suspected ketamine on the driver, according to the station.
The station did not release a description of the vehicle or say whether anyone else was inside.
Booking under Health and Safety Code 11379.2
The booking records cite a violation of Health and Safety Code Section 11379.2. That section of California law covers possession for sale or sale of certain controlled substances. It is punishable by county jail time of up to one year or by state prison.
The station listed the arrest as possession of a controlled substance for sale.
Station cites three recent overdose responses
The station said that over the past two weeks, deputies in West Hollywood had responded to three incidents in which people overdosed on ketamine.
There is no indication in the information available that those overdoses are connected to this arrest.
Overdose deaths fell in Los Angeles County in 2025
Los Angeles County reported 2,298 accidental drug overdose and poisoning deaths in 2025, a decline of 6% from 2024, according to county public health data released June 25. Fentanyl-related deaths fell 10% and methamphetamine-related deaths fell 7%.
The county’s figures cover all of Los Angeles County and do not address ketamine.
Narcotics Bureau investigation
According to initial reports, the Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Bureau is investigating the case. The station has not announced any other arrests in connection with it.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station at 310-855-8850.
District Attorney review is pending
The driver was released after being cited, and the District Attorney’s Office has not announced whether it will file charges. A decision on formal charges rests with that office.
The investigation remains active.
