NORTH COAST, Calif. – A vehicle stop last week in Mendocino County led to the arrests of two Clearlake residents, one for possessing drugs for sale – including heroin and methamphetamine – and the other for warrants.
Joseph Fitzgerald, 37, and Allison Strout, 27, were taken into custody early on the morning of Friday, Aug. 28, according to a report from Sgt. Eric Riboli of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
Riboli said that at 3:15 a.m. that day, Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies were on routine patrol when they observed a bronze-colored Jeep traveling northbound on North State Street in Redwood Valley.
The vehicle displayed expired registration tabs, which is a violation of the California Vehicle Code. As a result, Riboli said the deputies conducted a traffic enforcement stop on the vehicle in the 7700 block of North State Street.
Riboli said the deputies contacted the driver and identified him as Fitzgerald, with Strout identified as the passenger.
A warrants check revealed two outstanding Humboldt County arrest warrants for Strout's arrest. The deputies also learned Strout was on probation with search terms. Fitzgerald came back clear in all systems, Riboli said.
Riboli said a probation search of the Jeep revealed a large quantity of heroin and a smaller quantity of methamphetamine.
As their investigation continued, the deputies developed probable cause to believe Fitzgerald possessed the heroin with the intent to sell, Riboli said.
Fitzgerald was arrested for possession of narcotics for sale and Strout was arrested for the two active Humboldt County arrest warrants, according to Riboli’s report.
Riboli said the two were transported to the Mendocino County Jail. Fitzgerald was booked for the listed charge and was released on zero bail at the conclusion of the jail booking process.
Strout was booked on the warrants and held in lieu of $50,000 bail, Riboli said.