Cher‘s home has been doubling as a drug den … but apparently without her knowledge. The 72-year-old wasn’t home at the time of the raid, she was on an international tour.
As reported by TMZ, the search resulted in the arrest of Donovan Ruiz, the 23-year-old son of one of the singer’s assistants, who lives at her residence. According to reports, the police found a variety of narcotics and other drug paraphernalia both on Ruiz, as well as in his room. A box of .22 caliber bullets was also recovered from his room.
Authorities are said to have found “1.3 grams of fentanyl powder, a Xanax pill, an unknown white pill, tin foil and a pink straw with brown residue” on Ruiz. After searching his room, they reportedly located a supply of drugs and drug paraphernalia, including six yellow pills stamped with “215,” two pink pills with a “K40” marking, three strips of the narcotic Suboxone, and four patches containing fentanyl. Cops also reportedly found two boxes of .22 caliber bullets and a box holding “burnt foil and a straw.”
Captain Garo Kuredijan of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said that investigators concluded Ruiz supplied narcotics to someone who died from an overdose in mid-September.
Cher reportedly had no idea about the drugs at her Malibu residence, as she’s been on tour. She is in Australia for her Here We Go Again Tour. She’ll reportedly be down under until the end of October, at which time she’ll head back to Las Vegas for her residency at Caesars Palace.
According to reports, Ruiz is suspected of selling fentanyl to people living in Ventura and Los Angeles counties. He also allegedly sold drugs to a person, whom the Daily Mail identified as 26-year-old Kevin Cunningham, who lived in Thousand Oaks, Calif. that had recently overdosed. TMZ reports that Cunningham’s death was the reason police obtained the search warrant for Cher’s home.
Ruiz was reportedly arrested for possession of a controlled substance. However, it’s thought that he will also face charges related to Cunningham’s death. According to the Daily Mail, however, he has already “been charged with supplying narcotics to someone who dies, a felony.”
Prior to his arrest, police had reportedly called paramedics to the scene in preparation for any potential violence. A firetruck was also present.
Bail was later set for Ruiz at $500,000. He is also reportedly on $90,000 bail for a separate case from 2017.
Watch the video report below for more details: