LUCERNE, Calif. – The check of a suspicious vehicle on Wednesday resulted in one arrest and the seizure of 47.6 grams of methamphetamine.
Stephen Anthony Thomas, 36, was taken into custody as a result of the stop, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
At 12:30 a.m. Wednesday a sheriff's K9 unit was traveling westbound on Highway 20 in Lucerne when the deputy noticed three subjects standing near a Lexus sport utility vehicle that was parked on the shoulder of Highway 20, just east of the Beachcomber Resort at 6345 Highway 20, Brooks said.
The deputy parked in front of the resort and contacted the three subjects as they walked toward his patrol vehicle, according to Brooks.
The subjects said they were from Redwood Valley and had come to the resort to visit a friend. Brooks said the deputy observed that all of the lights were off in the rooms at the resort.
The three subjects were identified as Thomas, 37-year-old Jesse James Rodriguez and 26-year-old Amber Cheri Dillon, all from Redwood Valley, Brooks said.
A subsequent records check conducted by Central Dispatch revealed that all three subjects had their driving privileges suspended. Brooks said Central Dispatch also advised that Dillon was on felony probation in Mendocino County and was subject to search and seizure.
Thomas said he had purchased the Lexus recently and had not yet registered it in his name. When the deputy asked, Thomas also denied having anything illegal in the vehicle, Brooks said.
Brooks said the deputy advised Thomas that he was a K9 officer and that he was going to deploy his canine to conduct an exterior sniff of the vehicle. Thomas maintained that there were no narcotics in the vehicle.
During the exterior sniff, the canine produced a positive alert at the front driver side wheel well, indicating that the odor of a controlled substance was present, Brooks said.
The deputy informed Thomas of the positive alert, Brooks said. Thomas said that someone might have smoked marijuana inside the vehicle during the last couple of days.
Brooks said the deputy opened the hood of the vehicle and located a black plastic case between the car battery and the vehicle frame, above the driver side wheel well.
The deputy opened the case and located two clear plastic bags containing a clear crystalline substance recognized to be methamphetamine. Brooks said Thomas denied knowing anything about the methamphetamine.
Thomas was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance and using a false compartment to conceal narcotics, according to Brooks.
Brooks said Thomas was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. His bail was set at $35,000. Jail records indicated he later posted the required percentage of bail and was released.
Both Dillon and Rodriguez were released at the scene, Brooks said.
The methamphetamine was later weighed and determined to have a gross weight of 47.6 grams or 1.68 ounces, according to Brooks.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.