100+ Grams Fentanyl Seized in SF Stop

A traffic stop in the Highlands area of unincorporated San Mateo County turned into a fentanyl bust early Tuesday, May 5. Deputies pulled over a suspicious vehicle near Skyline Boulevard and Bunker Hill Drive at about 1 a.m., then found drug paraphernalia in the car. That led to a search — and the search led to more than 100 grams of suspected fentanyl, hundreds of suspected fentanyl pills, more than $5,000 in cash, and an imitation firearm. Two people were arrested: 40-year-old San Francisco resident David C. Dutton and 55-year-old Stockton resident Alexis Coombs. ### Why did the stop escalate so fast? Because deputies say the car already looked suspicious, and once they made contact they saw drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. That matters because plain-view evidence during a traffic stop often gives officers a direct path to search the car. Deputies also found that Dutton had two active warrants tied to drug sales, which raised the stakes immediately. ### What exactly did deputies say they found? The big item was more than 100 grams of suspected fentanyl packaged in numerous bundles. Deputies also said they found hundreds of suspected fentanyl pills, cash, paraphernalia, and an imitation firearm for sale, not just simple possession. ### Who got arrested? The driver was identified as David C. Dutton of San Francisco. The passenger was Alexis Coombs of Stockton. Deputies booked both into the Maguire Correctional Facility on multiple charges, including possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance for sale, a fentanyl weight enhancement, and possession of drug paraphernalia. ### What is a fentanyl weight enhancement? Basically, California law adds extra criminal exposure when the amount of fentanyl crosses certain thresholds. Deputies cited a fentanyl weight-enhancement charge here, which tells you investigators believe this is not a small street case. ### Why does 100 grams matter so much? Because fentanyl is incredibly potent. A seizure measured in grams can already be dangerous; a seizure measured in more than 100 grams plus hundreds of pills is a very different category. The governor’s offices. That gives you a sense of why local agencies treat even “small” busts as high-stakes. ### Is this part of a bigger crackdown? Yes — and that’s the real backdrop. San Francisco police said in April that since launching the Drug Market Agency Coordination Center in May 2023, officers had seized more than 1,249 pounds of narcotics, and it is regional: local agencies are leaning hard on traffic stops, warrant work, and coordinated enforcement. ### So what should readers take from this? This was not a random tiny possession case. Deputies say they found trafficking-style packaging, a large amount of suspected fentanyl, pills, cash, and a fake gun in one car during a pre-dawn stop. The bigger story is that Bay Area fentanyl enforcement now works like a regional pressure campaign — and even a roadside stop can turn into a serious narcotics case very quickly.