Deputies arrest men for weapons, drug charges; white powdery substance found

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Sheriff's deputies arrested two men over the weekend on weapons and drug charges, along with allegations that one had a warrant for his arrest and the other a parole violation.

 

Arrested were William Ralph Smith, 40, of Kelseyville, and Santiago Garcia, 32, of Mount Vernon, Wash., according to a report from Lt. Brian Martin.

 

Shortly after 5 p.m. Saturday a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy stopped a truck driven by Smith on Lakeshore Boulevard in north Lakeport for an equipment violation, Martin said. Riding in the truck with Smith was Garcia.

 

Law enforcement records showed that Smith was on parole and that Garcia was a convicted felon with a warrant for his arrest out of Washington state. Martin said Garcia was arrested pursuant to the warrant, and a search of the truck was conducted.

 

During the search of the truck, deputies discovered a .223 caliber Sturm Ruger “Ranch Rifle” with a 30-round clip. Martin said a law enforcement records check showed that the rifle had been reported stolen to the police department in Lebanon, Ore. No ammunition for the rifle was located.

 

Also found during the search was approximately 20 grams of a white powdery substance in a metal baking sheet under the driver’s seat, Martin said. Field tests of the substance were inconclusive and the material was collected for further testing by the California Department of Justice Crime lab.

 

Martin said both Garcia and Smith were also suspected of being under the influence of methamphetamine.

 

Garcia was booked at the Lake County Jail for the Washington state arrest warrant, for being in possession of stolen property, being a felon in possession of a firearm and for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Jail records indicated that Garcia, whose bail was listed as $10,000, remained in custody on Monday.

 

Smith was booked on a no-bail parole hold, being under the influence of a controlled substance, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. He also remained in custody on Monday.

 

Lab test results of the white powdery substance are not yet available, Martin said.

 

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