LAKE COUNTY — As a result of the continuing efforts to battle the sales and distribution of illicit drugs in Lake County, investigative and enforcement efforts over the past two weeks by the Sheriff”s Narcotics Task Force have resulted in the service of several search warrants, several felony and misdemeanor arrests, and the seizure of methamphetamine, marijuana and currency, according to a press release from Capt. James Bauman, Public Information Officer for the Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO).
On the morning of Jan. 20, task force members secured a search warrant for the person, home and vehicle of Michele Ann Survine, 47, of Lucerne. Survine was located later that day in her vehicle parked at the Lucerne Harbor Park.
While Survine was detained, both her vehicle and her home located several blocks away were searched simultaneously.
Currency, the suspected profit of drug trafficking, was seized for asset forfeiture proceedings from Survine”s vehicle as a result of that search. When detectives entered her home, they located a radio scanner in one of the bedrooms. The scanner was actively monitoring the sheriff”s primary radio frequency. Two bags of suspected methamphetamine and two baggies of marijuana were located in separate dresser drawers. A digital scale and other evidence of sales were also found in the home. Survine was subsequently arrested and booked at the Lake County Jail on felony charges of possessing a controlled substance for sale and possessing marijuana for sale.
On Jan. 25, task force members served a search warrant at the home of Deborah Ann Andres, 59, in Nice. Andres was home at the time of the warrant service and several other subjects were detained as well. While Andres was detained, detectives located a large sum of money, a lock box containing various amounts of suspected methamphetamine, and evidence of selling methamphetamine in one bedroom. In another bedroom, detectives found several plastic storage bins containing processed marijuana, scales, drying racks, packaging and other evidence of the sales of marijuana. Detectives also found the home had been equipped with a video surveillance system.
Andres was arrested for felony possession and possession for sales of both methamphetamine and marijuana. Methamphetamine and more than 20 pounds of processed marijuana were seized from the home. Money int eh amount of $5,255 was also seized for asset forfeiture proceedings. One of the other people found in the home, Judy Lynn Colon, 46, of Nice, was also arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
On Jan. 28, the Narcotics Task Force served a search warrant on Ronald Clyde Westfall, 54, of Lakeport. The warrant was secured the previous week after some methamphetamine was found on the floor of the Konocti Vista Casino and Westfall was identified through video surveillance as the person who dropped it.
Detectives located Westfall driving through the City of Lakeport in his Ford van and had a Lakeport Police Department patrol unit conduct a traffic stop on the van. Westfall was determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance and arrested. He was transported to his home where detectives searched the premises pursuant to the warrant. Detectives located several pounds of marijuana and some paraphernalia indicating methamphetamine use. The marijuana was not seized as he possessed a valid medicinal marijuana card. Westfall was transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked for the misdemeanor under the influence charge.
On Tuesday, task force detectives spotted a motorcycle with expired registration tags occupied by two men pulling into the North Shore Sentry Market in Nice. When detectives contacted the two men, the passenger, Charles Alan Bivin, 40, of Ukiah, tried to conceal two containers in his sweatshirt and he appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance. Further examination of Bivin confirmed he was under the influence and he was arrested.
Incident to his arrest, the containers in his sweatshirt were searched and found to contain narcotics paraphernalia and three separate amounts of suspected methamphetamine totaling 20.8 grams. A zipped case Bivin also had in his possession was found to contain more narcotics paraphernalia, a scale, and two separate amounts of marijuana. Bivin was booked at the Lake County Jail on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sale and misdemeanor charges of being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.
The Sheriff”s Narcotics Task Force will continue its efforts to eradicate drugs from the communities of Lake County and seize suspected profits from narcotics sales for asset forfeiture proceedings whenever possible. Anyone with information that can assist the task force with this endeavor is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 263-3663.
