Cher’s Malibu Home Raided by Ventura County Sheriff Deputies

(Malibu, Ca) Ventura County Deputy Sheriff’s detectives served a warrant on Cher’s Malibu residence located in the 25000 block of Pacific Coast Highway.  A man was arrested by detectives on Thursday afternoon.

Detectives were called to the residence after learning that the 23-year-old man (reportedly Cher’s assistant’s son), was related to a recent drug overdose that occurred in Thousand Oaks.

Detectives from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Inter-agency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit (PCU) assisted by the Thousand Oaks Directed Enforcement Unit (DEU) and the Thousand Oaks Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) concluded a two week narcotic investigation into Donovan Ruiz, who was involved in the sales of suspected Fentanyl to residents of Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Ruiz is suspected of being the source of supply of Fentanyl to many users in Ventura County.

Fentanyl sold by Ruiz was eventually consumed by a victim in the city of Thousand Oaks who later overdosed and died.

Detectives located and detained Ruiz at Cher’s residence, where Ruiz is also domiciled.  During this investigation detectives were able to seize evidence related to Ruiz’s selling of illegal controlled substances.

Ruiz was booked into custody at the Ventura County Main Jail facility for 11352 H&S – Sales of a controlled substance. Additional charging enhancements related to the overdose death are probable. Ruiz’s bail was set at $500,000 and he is scheduled to be arraigned in Ventura County Superior Court on Monday October 1st at 1:30PM.

The Ventura County Interagency Pharmaceutical Crimes Unit is a task force made up of members from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office, Thousand Oaks Police Department, the California Highway Patrol, the Simi Valley Police Department, and the Ventura Police Department. The primary mission of the task force is combatting the transfer of legal prescription medication to the illegal market. In addition, the task force works to identify and stop new trends of abuse among the younger population and investigates overdoses due to both prescription medication and illicit drug use.

Cher was not at her home when the sheriff’s office arrived. She is in the midst of an international music tour.

The public may also anonymously use the email pharm.tip@ventura.org to report pharmaceutical related crimes involving prescription medications.

Help Support Local News, Become a Sponsor or Advertiser. Our Ad Rates are the most affordable in town. Contact Us for More Information.