LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force arrested a local man and seized drugs and stolen firearms following a Wednesday search warrant service.
Fred Ralph Pearl, 33, of Nice was arrested in the case, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
On Wednesday, narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for Pearl, his home and vehicles, serving the warrant at 2 p.m. that day at Pearl’s residence in the 7000 block of Pyle Road in Nice, Brooks said.
When narcotics detectives entered the home, Pearl was located and detained without incident. Brooks said detectives immediately noticed several bags of marijuana, digital scales and packaging materials, which were in plain view.
During the search, detectives located a large gun safe with its door open, Brooks said. Inside the safe was a loaded Glock 9 millimeter pistol. A records check of the firearm revealed it had been stolen from a Lake County residence on Oct. 5.
In the room where Pearl was located, detectives found several bags of processed marijuana, which were packaged in 1 pound increments. Brooks said there also was a large amount of untrimmed marijuana, a digital scale and several pairs of trimming scissors.
On a shelf next to the digital pound scale was a glass methamphetamine pipe, which was caked with a white residue. Next to the pipe was a black pouch. Inside the pouch detectives located three bags containing a translucent crystalline substance, which was later determined to be methamphetamine, Brooks said.
Under a chair, near the area where Pearl was located, detectives found another black pouch. Inside the pouch was $2,700 and another bindle containing methamphetamine, according to Brooks.
In the corner of the room detectives located a 12-gauge shotgun and a lever action .22-caliber rifle. Brooks said a records check of both firearms revealed the .22-caliber rifle was stolen from Mendocino County during a burglary.
In the same area of the room, detectives located several boxes of ammunition and indicia for Pearl. They also located a bottle of liquid Ketamine and a bottle of Epinephrine, Brooks said. On a shelf, detectives found a glass baking dish that contained a dark colored substance, recognized to be honey oil, or concentrated marijuana.
In the rear of the residence, narcotics detectives located another gun safe. The door of the safe was open, and inside were several bags of processed marijuana and a loaded .38-caliber revolver. Also inside the safe was a black bag containing a 1911 .45 caliber pistol, Brooks said. Next to the gun safe was a cardboard barrel, which contained several pounds of untrimmed marijuana.
Pearl told detectives that he did not have a medical marijuana recommendation. He admitted to growing some of the marijuana and said he purchased the rest. Brooks said Pearl said the firearms located on the property were not his and denied having any knowledge of them.
Pearl was arrested for the cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of a controlled substance, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, manufacturing a controlled substance and receiving stolen property. Brooks said Pearl was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. His bail was set at $100,000.
Narcotic detectives located and seized a total of six firearms, 60.8 pounds of untrimmed marijuana, 21.8 pounds of processed marijuana, 5.1 grams of methamphetamine, one bottle of Epinephrine, one bottle of Ketamine and approximately 1 ounce of honey oil. Brooks said the $2,700 was seized pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.