LAKE COUNTY — A two-day enforcement sweep conducted by the Lake County Gang Task Force this week has resulted in a total of 17 arrests and the seizure of suspected methamphetamine, according to Capt. James Bauman, Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) public information officer.
The Lake County Gang Task Force consists of members from the Lake County Sheriff”s Office, the Clearlake Police Department, the Lakeport Police Department, the Lake County Probation Department and the Lake County District Attorney”s Office. This week”s operation was assisted by members of the Sheriff”s Narcotics Task Force, the Sheriff”s Narcotics Detection K-9 teams, California State Parole and the Department of Homeland Security.
On Tuesday and Wednesday the Gang Task Force conducted more than 50 probation or parole searches in unincorporated county communities and the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport. The operation targeted validated gang members, known drug dealers and convicted sex registrants. Fourteen of the total arrests included felony charges and the other three were classified as misdemeanors. Arrests made during the two-day operation also resulted in nine parole violations, the execution of eight outstanding arrest warrants, and two I.N.S. holds.
Arrests made during the two day operation included: Angel Rodriquez Jr. , 33, for violation of parole; Steven Michael Pruitt, 25, for a misdemeanor warrant and possession of narcotics paraphernalia; Samuel William Rhea, 30, for a misdemeanor warrant; Alex Paul Martinez, 40, for violation of parole; Javier Gonzalez Alvarez, 27, for possession of concentrated cannabis; Alejandro Jose Lopez, 29, for a misdemeanor warrant; Ronald Melvin Lebrun, 38, for a felony warrant and a misdemeanor warrant; Kelvin Lee Simpson, 44, for violation of parole; Cesario Angelo Jacobo, 35, for violation of parole; Doffus Lomack Gallon, 42, for violation of parole; Jose Matilde Vega, 25, for an I.N.S. hold; Ivan Montalvo Vargas, 24, for possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of marijuana for sales, a felony warrant, and an I.N.S. hold; John Girllmo Marquez, 46, for possession of a controlled substance for sales and a felony warrant; Joseph Robert Garcia, 37, for violation of parole; Charlene Marie Carver, 24, for violation of parole and felon in possession of tear gas; Thomatra Eugene Lyons, 32, for violation of parole and Dwayne Lenor Yiggins, 33, for violation of parole.
The Lake County Sheriff”s Office considers the two-day enforcement sweep a complete success and attributes that success to the coordinated and cooperative effort of all the agencies that were involved.
Sheriff Frank Rivero expressed his deepest appreciation to the dedicated law enforcement professionals who participated in this operation and helped make Lake County a safer place to live.
