LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Monday morning enforcement stop has resulted in one arrest and the seizure of processed marijuana.
Patrick William King, 44, of Cloverdale was arrested following the vehicle stop, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
At 8 a.m. Monday a deputy was patrolling the Clearlake Oaks area when he noticed a black Ford Taurus that exhibited numerous vehicle code violations, Brooks said. Central Dispatch also advised the vehicle's registration was expired.
Brooks said the deputy conducted an enforcement stop on Highway 20, near New Long Valley Road, and contacted King, who was the driver.
The deputy deployed his drug detection K9 to conduct an exterior sniff of the vehicle. As the K9 approached the passenger’s side rear door, she produced a positive alert, indicating there was the odor of a controlled substance present, Brooks said.
The deputy had King step out of the vehicle and informed him about the dog alerting to the vehicle. Brooks said King told the deputy that he was not going to give consent to search his vehicle.
Brooks said the deputy opened the trunk and immediately smelled the odor of marijuana emitting from inside the trunk. Inside the trunk the deputy located a blue plastic 18 gallon drum, which appeared to be sealed.
The deputy asked King what was inside the drum and King replied, “You know what’s inside.” King then informed the deputy that if he had any additional questions, he could refer them to his lawyer, Brooks said.
Brooks said the deputy removed the container from inside the trunk and opened it. Inside he located 12 individually packaged, vacuum sealed bags. Each bag contained approximately one pound of processed marijuana which were seized as evidence. The deputy also seized $740 from King, pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
King was arrested for the transportation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sales. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, with bail set at $20,000. Jail records indicated he later posted bail and was released.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.