Staff reports
CLEARLAKE OAKS >> A vehicle stop for a mechanical violation led officers to arrest two people and seize multiple drugs.
Minutes before midnight on Wednesday, an unnamed patrol deputy was traveling on Highway 20 near Clearlake Oaks when he reportedly noticed a Ford Explorer heading eastbound with a defective rear tail light, according to Lt. Steve Brooks, Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) public information officer. The driver was identified as Thomas Earl Sheppard of Chico; also in the SUV was Sheri Lynn Hann of Lucerne.
Sheppard was on formal felony probation with a search clause out of Butte County and Hann had an active arrest warrant, which was citable, Brooks stated. The deputy had Hann step out and when she opened the door, the deputy alleged he could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from inside the vehicle. Hann reportedly gave consent to search, but the deputy did not find contraband and issued Hann a citation for her warrant, which was also out of Butte County.
The deputy searched the vehicle and allegedly found a hypodermic syringe and two glass smoking pipes in the center console, Brooks stated. He also alleged he found a digital scale under the driver”s seat. In the seat pouch located on the back of the front passenger seat, the deputy allegedly found four plastic bags containing processed marijuana.
Additionally, the officer found a black fanny pack and a pack of cigarettes, which allegedly had a glass pipe coated with a dark residue Brooks stated. The fanny pack also allegedly held a resealable bag that contained a white crystalline substance believed to be methamphetamine and a pill bottle with Sheppard”s name on it, containing 10 individually wrapped plastic bindles of the same substance. The pack also allegedly had five bindles with a brown substance believed to be heroin and a roll of $20 bills.
Total, 11 bags with 2.3 grams of methamphetamine, five bags with 5.1 grams of heroine and four bags with 4.29 ounces of processed marijuana were seized as well as $1,520.
Sheppard was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of a narcotic for sale, violating the terms of his probation and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. Hann was arrested for the Butte County warrant and released on a citation.
