CLEARLAKE — Clearlake Police arrested Matthew Ritchie Vines, 30, of Lower Lake Wednesday following a traffic stop on Old Highway 53. Vines was arrested on several weapons charges and booked into the Lake County Jail.
According to Sgt. T. Celli, Vines was traveling southbound in a 1985 black Nissan pickup on Old Highway 53 when an officer detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle”s location. He said the officer noticed the license plate on the vehicle was obstructed and proceeded to conduct a traffic stop in the area of Old Airport Road.
While speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, including Vine and his passenger, Celli said the officer observed the stalk of a rifle between the driver and passenger seats. He said Vine gave consent to a vehicle search, upon which the officer located the rifle, which was allegedly loaded with five live rounds of .22 caliber ammunition. Celli said in addition, a .357 Magnum pistol was found concealed under the right side of the driver”s seat, which he said was within reaching distance of the driver.
According to Celli, during a subsequent interview Vine admitted to the ownership of the firearms. “(Vine) said he was from Texas and was unfamiliar with California laws,” Celli said.
Celli said subsequent investigation revealed that Vine is a convicted felon out of Texas. Ultimately Vine was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a concealed weapon in vehicle with a prior felony conviction, carrying a loaded firearm in public and being a prohibited person with ammunition.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 14.
