CLEARLAKE, Calif. – What began on Thursday as an attempt by police to serve an arrest warrant on a Clearlake woman led to additional arrests, the discovery of hazardous materials used for methamphetamine manufacturing and the need to temporarily evacuate nearby residents.
Lt. Tim Celli of the Clearlake Police Department said Candace Marie Conzet, 24, was arrested on the misdemeanor warrant, with 30-year-old Jeremy Lennon Jurek of Clearlake, 34-year-old Edward Jurek of Clearlake and Francian Reinhardt, 38, of Kelseyville also taken into custody on drug-related charges.
At 4:15 p.m. Thursday Clearlake Police officers went to 16224 26th Ave. to serve the warrant on Conzet, Celli said.
When the officers arrived, three subjects exited an attached shed located on the property. He said they were identified as Jeremy Jurek, Reinhardt and a 55-year-old Clearlake resident, the latter being released without charges.
Celli said officers initially detained the subjects for a protective sweep of the property and to look for Conzet, who they didn’t find at that time. However, they found Edward Jurek inside the residence.
During the protective sweep of the property, officers located suspicious items – which they suspected of being associated with the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine – in a hole dug out in the floor of the attached shed, Celli said.
He said it appeared as though someone dumped the items hastily in an attempt to conceal them, with loose dirt kicked over the top of them. However the items were only partially concealed, and officers reported smelling a chemical odor in the area.
Officers summoned Clearlake Police supervisors to the scene to show them the items that were located. At that point, it was believed the items were associated with the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine, Celli said.
The scene was secured for safety reasons and preparation of a search warrant. During the investigation it was determined Edward Jurek and Reinhardt were under the influence of a controlled substance and were subsequently arrested, according to Celli.
Celli said statements were secured from Jeremy Jurek that determined that the items were in fact items used for the clandestine manufacture of methamphetamine and that he was responsible for them.
Due to the dangerous conditions of confined space and other public safety concerns, Lake County Fire Protection District was requested to respond to the scene, Celli said.
While officers were on scene, Conzet arrived and was arrested for her outstanding warrant, Celli said. While she was being taken into custody, she violently resisted officers and was additionally charged with felony and misdemeanor resisting or delaying a peace officer.
Due to weather, lighting and other public safety concerns, it was determined that emergency personnel were going to keep the scene secure for the evening and additional resources would return in the morning to process the scene and collect evidence, he said.
Clearlake Police and Lake County Fire Protection personnel coordinated with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Unit, Lake County Environmental Health and Lake County Air Quality Management District personnel to investigate the methamphetamine manufacturing lab, Celli said.
He said nearby residents were evacuated for approximately three hours during the processing of the crime scene. Items associated with the manufacturing of methamphetamine along with samples of the substances were collected for evidence.
A hazardous materials cleanup company later was requested to the scene to assist with safely securing and disposing of toxic items, Celli said.
Jeremy Jurek was booked into the Lake County Jail for felony manufacturing methamphetamine and was being held on Friday on $100,000 bail, Celli said.
Jail records showed that Conzet’s bail is set at $15,000. She remained in custody on Friday afternoon.
Celli said the Clearlake Police Department offered its thanks to all first responders and their agencies that assisted with this investigation to bring this dangerous situation to a safe conclusion.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Det. Ryan Peterson at 707-994-8251.