LAKEPORT, Calif. – A vehicle stop conducted by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force has resulted in one arrest and the seizure of an ounce of methamphetamine.
Rhae Anne Mills, 45, of Clearlake was arrested as a result of the stop, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
At 9 p.m. Wednesday a narcotics detective noticed a vehicle leaving the Shoreline Shopping Center in Lakeport which was missing the front driver’s side lighting assembly, Brooks said.
Brooks said the detective followed the vehicle, which was traveling southbound on South Main Street. The driver signaled to make a right turn where there was no road to turn onto and then continued traveling in the southbound direction.
As they were approaching K-mart, the driver signaled again and moved to the right side of the road well before it would have been appropriate to make the turn. Based on the lighting violation and driving pattern, the detective conducted an enforcement stop, Brooks said.
The detective contacted the driver, who was identified as Mills. While explaining the reason for the stop, Brooks said the detective noticed Mills was extremely nervous and fidgety. When he asked to see her driver’s license, Mills searched through several wallets and bags in her purse but was unable to locate her license.
When asked, Mills denied being on probation or parole. The detective noticed Mills was visibly shaking and maintained a rapid speech pattern while talking to her. Based on his observations, the detective believed Mills was under the influence of a controlled substance, according to Brooks.
A second detective arrived on scene to assist with the enforcement stop and advised he had previously contacted Mills and knew she was on probation. Mills changed her story and admitted she was on probation with a search clause, Brooks said.
During a search of the vehicle detectives located a small coin purse hidden under the dashboard. Inside the coin purse Brooks said detectives located four plastic bags which contained a white crystalline substance they recognized to be methamphetamine.
One of the bags appeared to contain approximately one ounce of methamphetamine. Brooks said the other three bags contained smaller amounts which appeared to be packaged for sales. All of the methamphetamine was seized as evidence. Detectives also located $627, which was seized pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
Mills was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale and transportation of a controlled substance. Brooks said she was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
Mills remained in custody on Friday. Brooks said she was unable to bail due to violating the conditions of her probation.
The methamphetamine was later weighed and determined to have a total combined weight of 33.2 grams. Brooks said detectives estimated the approximate street value to be $3,320 if sold in personal use quantities.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.