Possession of Suspected Methamphetamine and Work Release Violation 

April 27, 2025 – San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials report that over a period of several weeks Deputy Ramirez received numerous curfew violations and a dead battery alert from Electronic Confinement (ECP) inmate Cristina Zaragoza's ankle monitor.

Deputy Ramirez initiated an investigation related to the violation alerts. Deputy Ramirez discovered Zaragoza was leaving her residence during the restricted house arrest hours throughout the night. Zaragoza would frequent gas stations and motels during her curfew violations. With the assistance of deputies Flanegan and Patella, and probation officer Heung, Deputy Ramirez coordinated a compliance and probation check. Zaragoza was contacted at a convenient store in the city of San Bernardino while violating her curfew. When Zaragoza was contacted, she was with two adult males. One of the males was on active AB 109 probation for prior drug arrests. The other male also had a record for prior drug arrest. 

Due to the suspicious circumstances and violations, a search of Zaragoza's person and vehicle was conducted. Several individual plastic baggies were located which contained suspected methamphetamine. This type of packaging is indicative of narcotics packaged for sales. A compliance check was also conducted at Zaragosa residence, but no other contraband was located. Due to Zaragoza's travel pattern and how the suspected methamphetamine was packaged, Deputy Ramirez believed Zaragoza was participating in the sales of suspected methamphetamine while on the Work Release ECP Program. Zaragoza was arrested for PC 11377(a) possession of a controlled substance and PC 4024.3(c)(2) violation of Work Release.

Zaragoza was sentenced to Work Release ECP Program by the Courts on February 19, 2025, for her conviction of PC 496(a) receiving known stolen property.

The San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors authorizes the Sheriff to administer a Work Release program. While providing manual labor to improve or maintain public facilities, inmates may re-establish ties with their family, return to work with their previous employers, while serving the community on their non-scheduled workdays. Inmates who have been sentenced to Work Release by the courts also have the option of participating in Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center's Electronic Confinement Program (ECP). It is the duty of the Work Release division to ensure that all commitments are held accountable to all California State Laws while participating in the program to provide safety and security for the community.     

DATE/TIME: April 23, 2025 / 7:44 a.m.

INCIDENT: Possession of Suspected Methamphetamine and Work Release Violation

LOCATION: 1583 E. Baseline St., San Bernardino 

SUSPECT(S): Cristina Zaragoza, 33-year-old Female

VICTIM(S): State of California

Refer: Deputy Ramirez

Station: 36- Work Release

Phone No. 909-473-3612

Case No. 322500030

Source: San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department