Montebello mayor’s husband arrested on suspicion of selling meth

The husband of Montebello Mayor Christina Cortez was taken into custody Thursday on suspicion of selling methamphetamine, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Ruben Guerrero, 44, was booked at the Sheriff’s East Los Angeles Station on suspicion of selling methamphetamine and narcotics near a school. His bail is set at $60,000.

Authorities said they took Guerrero into custody as he was leaving his home at 6 a.m. in the 1500 block of Los Angeles Avenue. Authorities then served a search warrant at his home, which he owns with Cortez, according to property records.

Steve Whitmore, a spokesman for the department, said the warrant that was served at their home is not focused on Cortez. He did not disclose further details.

Deputies also served a search warrant at a second home in the 1600 block of Los Angeles Avenue, but no arrests were made.

Montebello city officials said they had no immediate comment about the incident.

This isn’t Guerrero’s first brush in with the law.

In November 1999, he was convicted of driving under the influence.

Last year, arson officials with the Montebello Fire Department investigated a “suspicious” fire that torched the then-councilwoman’s family Suburban, the Whittier Daily News reported.

Cortez told the newspaper the vehicle damaged in the early morning fire on Sept. 28, 2012, was mostly driven by her husband, Ruben Guerrero.

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Times staff Writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.