LAKE COUNTY — The service of a search warrant by the Sheriff”s Narcotics Task Force on Tuesday night resulted in five arrests and the seizure of controlled substances, marijuana, a stolen firearm and cash believed to be the suspected profits of drug trafficking, according to Capt. James Bauman, Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) public information officer.
On March 4, task force members obtained a search warrant for the person, home and vehicles of Javier Lupercio, 48, of Lakeport. On Tuesday evening at approximately 7 p.m., one of the Sheriff”s K-9 teams stopped a vehicle belonging to Lupercio in Upper Lake for an unrelated traffic violation. Task force members were alerted to the traffic stop and responded to execute the warrant. Lupercio and Jeffrey Mitchell, 29, of Lakeport were among several people detained.
After the sheriff”s narcotics detection K-9, “Gracie,” alerted to several areas of the vehicle, a search revealed suspected methamphetamine and narcotics paraphernalia inside the car. Lupercio was also found to be in possession of more than $900 in cash, which was seized for asset forfeiture. Lupercio and Mitchell were both arrested. Task force members went to Lupercio”s home on Mission Way in Lakeport to complete service of the search warrant.
When detectives entered Lupercio”s home, they detained Felicia Amparo, 20, and Nathan John, 24, both of Lakeport.
Another vehicle belonging to Lupercio found at the home was searched and a full bottle of Hydrocodone was seized. While searching inside the home, detectives located a duffel bag containing 16 pounds of processed marijuana packaged for sales and a loaded .380 handgun that was reported stolen in a Lakeport burglary on Jan. 4. They also located and seized two more bottles of Hydrocodone, digital scales and other evidence of narcotics sales and trafficking.
John was arrested for violating parole and Amparo was arrested for a local bench warrant. While detectives were in the process of searching Lupercio”s home, another man, John Feeney, 49, of Lakeport, arrived and was detained. Feeney was subsequently arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
All five people were booked at the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility. Lupercio was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sales, possession of a stolen firearm and being under the influence of a controlled substance. Mitchell was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.
The Sheriff”s Narcotics Task Force will continue its efforts to eradicate narcotics 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.
