Woman Arrested for Fentanyl and DUI after Highway 101 Traffic Stop
By F. Scott Faulkner
Carpenteria, CA — March 17, 2026
A Lompoc woman was arrested when sheriff’s deputies discovered more than two pounds of
fentanyl during a traffic stop along Highway 101 near Carpinteria.
Officer’s reportedly “observed a vehicle traveling northbound and drifting out of its
lane” as it approached the Summerland off-ramp.
Suspecting the driver might be impaired, deputies initiated a traffic stop.
The driver, identified as Erica Racheal Ruvalcaba, 43, of Lompoc, “showed signs of
being under the influence of drugs” during the initial contact, whereupon deputies continued
their investigation and conducted a search of the vehicle.
Inside her car, they uncovered “a significant quantity of narcotics” concealed within a subwoofer
speaker, where deputies found approximately 2 pounds and 6 ounces of fentanyl, along with
about 8 grams of methamphetamine and used methamphetamine pipes.
Ruvalcaba was taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Santa Barbara County Main
Jail.
She was booked on charges of possession of fentanyl for sale and
transportation or sale of a controlled substance, as well as misdemeanor counts of driving under
the influence of drugs, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Ruvalcaba remains in custody on an enhanced bail set at $500,000.
