SRPD PCI Team Makes Arrests in Street-Level Narcotics Operation and Seizes Firearm

In October 2025, a Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) detective with the Property Crimes Investigations Team (PCI) began an investigation into a suspected narcotics dealer, 19-year-old Santa Rosa resident Elijah Gaudet.  After several weeks of investigation, the detective obtained a search warrant for Gaudet, his vehicle, and his residence.   

While completing surveillance at Gaudet’s residence on November 12, 2025, at approximately 4:15 p.m., detectives watched as he and an associate drove away in his vehicle.  Officers assigned to the Special Enforcement Team (SET) assisted with the operation and completed a traffic stop on that vehicle in the 2500 block of Santa Rosa Avenue.  During a search of Gaudet and the vehicle, detectives located psilocybin mushrooms, suspected fentanyl, and a digital scale.   

The passenger of the vehicle, 19-year-old Santa Rosa resident Lyrik Morales, had a firearm (with a defaced serial number) concealed in his jacket pocket.  Morales was prohibited from possessing firearms based on a previous criminal conviction. 

At approximately 4:25 p.m., detectives arrived at Gaudet’s apartment in the 300 block of Yolanda Avenue for the search warrant service.  During a search of the residence, detectives located digital scales, packaging materials, psilocybin mushrooms, marijuana products, cocaine, prescription pills, methamphetamine, and fentanyl.  Those substances were located in various rooms, drawers, shelves, and on the floor in various states of packaging.  The evidence located was consistent with street-level narcotics sales.  Gaudet lived at the residence with Taylor Elder, a 23-year-old woman, and a 6-month-old infant.  Both Elder and the infant were present during the search warrant service. 

During the search warrant service, detectives noted a large amount of the narcotics and contaminated packaging materials were scattered haphazardly throughout the residence, specifically in close proximity to the child’s toys and clothing.  Detectives were concerned that the infant could have been inadvertently exposed to those substances from contaminated toys, bottles, blankets, clothing, lying on the ground, or by other cross-contamination conditions.   

Gaudet was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility for the following charges: 

11351 HS – Possession of narcotics for sales 
11378 HS – Possession of controlled substances for sales 
273a(a) PC – Felony Child Endangerment 

Elder was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility for the following charge: 

273a(a) PC – Felony Child Endangerment 

Morales was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility for the following charges: 

25400(a)(3) PC – Concealed Firearm on a Passenger in a Vehicle 
25850(a) PC – Possession of a Loaded Firearm 
29820(b) PC – Person Prohibited from Possessing Firearm 
23920 PC – Possession of a Firearm with Obliterated Serial Number 

The infant was placed in the custody of a family member upon the conclusion of the search warrant service. 

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 25-12313. 

Media inquiries can be made to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.