Fresno Deputy Police Chief Keith Foster, 5 Others Arrested on Drug Charges

The Fresno Police Department’s second in command has been arrested in a federal drug conspiracy investigation. Deputy Chief Keith Foster, 51, is accused of distributing and possessing drugs.

Deputy Chief Keith Foster is accused of distributing and possessing Oxycodone, marijuana, and heroin. He was arrested on Thursday after a year long investigation by the FBI and ATF.

Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer met with his staff to address any questions they have after the announcement–and also to reassure them that no one, including officers, is above the law.

Deputy Chief Foster is one of three deputy chiefs in the department. Chief Jerry Dyer says Foster’s job is to oversee patrol–and each of the four policing districts in the city. Foster became a deputy chief eight years ago.

At the news conference Thursday afternoon, Chief Dyer said he was just made aware of this case–after Foster was arrested on Thursday. Federal investigators are not revealing details of the investigation, other than to say they have surveillance, which includes Deputy Chief Foster. Investigators were authorized to use wire taps on telephones.

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Three other suspects were arrested on Thursday afternoon. Federal authorities say 41-year-old Rafael Guzman worked with Foster to distribute heroin. Foster’s relative, 48-year-old Randy Flowers is accused of conspiring to distribute Oxycodone. And 35-year-old Jennifer Donebedian was arrested for conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

The other two suspects, 44-year-old Denny Foster and 37-year-old Sarah Ybarra, were arrested Thursday night for conspiracy to distribute marijuana.

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Keith Foster and his family are well known in Fresno. His family has a long tradition in Southwest Fresno.

The Southwest Fresno Police Substation is named after Keith Foster’s father. During his decades with the police department, Foster climbed the ranks all the way to the second in command.

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The Foster family has also made some headlines for the wrong reasons. In 2012, Foster’s brother Patrick, a correctional officer, was arrested after officers said he was a getaway driver in a burglary at the Clovis Kohl’s.

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