Suspected drug dealer arrested in overdose death of man, 18, in San Bernardino County

A 24-year-old man suspected of selling drugs was arrested this week in connection with the overdose death of an 18-year-old Redlands man in 2022.

Police were initially called on Jan. 16, 2022, to the 900 block of Ohio Street regarding a man found unresponsive inside the residence, the Redlands Police Department stated in a news release.

Officers located 18-year-old David Arreguin, who was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

Investigators determined Arreguin’s death was drug-induced due to evidence found at the scene and later found fentanyl was at least one substance involved.

“The man suspected of providing Arreguin with fentanyl was later identified as 24-year-old David De La Cruz, of Redlands,” police said.

De La Cruz was interviewed by investigators in October of 2022 and arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sales and the case was sent to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for review.

A warrant was issued for De La Cruz in connection with Arreguin’s death on Jan. 31 of this year.

On Tuesday, detectives located De La Cruz at a business in the city of Beaumont and took him into custody without incident, police said.

He was booked on suspicion of murder and is being held on $1 million bail.