CLEARLAKE OAKS — A month-long investigation and surveillance of a Clearlake Oaks man by the Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) Narcotics Task Force (NTF) resulted in the service of a search warrant Wednesday morning yielding two arrests and the seizure of more than 10 ounces of crystal methamphetamine. According to the LCSO, the narcotics seized were valued at more than $29,000.
“That is a lot of meth taken out of circulation in our county,” Sheriff Rod Mitchell said.
According to Capt. Jim Bauman, during service of the search warrant, which was signed by Superior Court Judge Andrew Blum earlier in the week, members of the NTF made a traffic stop on a gold Ford Explorer around 11:10 a.m. on Highway 20 near Red & White Market. The vehicle was being driven by Stephen M. Poppe, 27, who was allegedly found to be in possession of a small amount of suspected methamphetamine, narcotics paraphernalia and $2,883 in cash. Bauman said Poppe was arrested without incident.
Subsequent to Poppe”s arrest, NTF members furthered service of the warrant at Poppe”s home on Garden Court in Clearlake Oaks. “During search of the home, task force members recovered and seized a total of 298 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine, several scales, a loaded .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun, and other evidence of the sales of a controlled substance,” Bauman said.
Mitchell added, “This case is a good example of the quality work that our task force has been performing all along.”
Additionally, Bauman said that Jerrica Alvarez, 22, of Hopland was found in Poppe”s home during service of the warrant and was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
She was booked and later cited to appear on the misdemeanor charge, Bauman said.
Poppe was booked at the Lake County Jail on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sale and transporting a controlled substance.
Bauman said Poppe remains in custody with an enhanced bail of $100,000.
