LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A vehicle stop Tuesday evening has resulted in one arrest and the seizure of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Miguel Antonio Velez, 31, of Kelseyville was arrested following the traffic stop, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
On Tuesday at approximately 4:35 p.m. narcotics detectives were traveling eastbound on Highway 20 in Upper Lake. Brooks said they noticed a vehicle traveling in front of them which had numerous vehicle code violations.
They conducted an enforcement stop in the area of Highway 20 and Government Street in Upper Lake, Brooks said.
The detectives contacted a passenger in the vehicle who they immediately recognized as Velez, who they knew had several outstanding warrants for his arrest. He also was on felony post release community supervision probation, according to Brooks.
Brooks said detectives had Velez exit the vehicle and noticed a black pouch lying on the seat next to where he had been sitting. Inside the bag detectives located two hypodermic needles, two spoons containing a white residue and a cut straw, commonly used to ingest illegal drugs.
Velez was arrested for the outstanding warrants and the drug paraphernalia, Brooks said.
Prior to transporting Velez, detectives asked if he had anything else concealed upon his person. Brooks said they explained that additional charges would be added if he brought anything illegal into the correctional facility.
Velez advised he had methamphetamine concealed in a body orifice. He then removed the methamphetamine, which was in a bag and dropped it onto the ground, Brooks said.
Velez told the detectives that the bag contained four grams of methamphetamine. Detectives seized the bag and noticed it contained a white crystalline substance, which they recognized to be methamphetamine, Brooks said.
Valez also was arrested for the possession of a controlled substance. Brooks said Velez was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
Detectives weighed the methamphetamine using a digital gram scale and noted it weighed 4.8 grams, Brooks said.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.