GLENHAVEN, Calif. – The report of a suspicious person in the Glenhaven area this week resulted in an Oregon man's arrest, and the seizure of methamphetamine and a firearm.
James David Knoester, 36, of Klamath Falls was arrested on Wednesday afternoon, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said that at 12:20 p.m. Wednesday deputies were dispatched to the report of a suspicious person walking around homes in the 9000 block of Glenhaven Drive.
A detective sergeant in the area spotted Knoester, who matched the description of the suspicious person, and approached him near a residence, Brooks said.
After failing to yield to verbal commands from the officer, Knoester was forced to the ground and detained in handcuffs, according to Brooks.
Knoester said he did not realize that the sergeant was law enforcement, according to Brooks. A short time later he changed his story and said the reason he did not follow directions was because he had a knife on him and was not sure if the blade was open or closed.
Brooks said that Knoester went on to say that he was concerned about getting shot if the blade was open. Knoester was arrested for obstructing and delaying a peace officer.
Knoester's vehicle was located on Glenhaven Drive, blocking the driveway of a residence and a tow company was called to remove the vehicle, which was searched following the arrest, Brooks said.
During the search deputies located a brown paper bag on the driver’s floorboard beneath a T-shirt, Brooks said. Inside the paper bag deputies located a clear plastic bag, which contained a large amount of a white crystalline substance recognized to be methamphetamine.
Brooks said the methamphetamine was later weighed and had a gross weight of 80.28 grams or 2.83 ounces, with a street value of approximately $8,000.
On the passenger floorboard, deputies located an ice chest which contained a loaded .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol, Brooks said. Two additional magazines for the firearm and four boxes of ammunition also were located and seized as evidence.
Brooks said Knoester also was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a controlled substance while armed, providing false identification to a peace officer and possession of a loaded concealed firearm.
He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, with bail set at $25,000. Jail records indicated Knoester remained in custody on Friday.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.