LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Thursday morning security check led to a Clearlake man's arrest and the seizure of methamphetamine.
Lt. Steve Brooks said a Lake County Sheriff's deputy arrested 31-year-old Michael Julian Ferguson.
At 2:50 a.m. Thursday a patrol deputy conducted a security check at Konocti Vista Casino in Lakeport. As the deputy was walking towards the main entrance to the casino, he noticed a male subject, later identified as Ferguson, sitting on the curb, Brooks said.
As the deputy started to walk toward Ferguson, Ferguson stood up and started to walk away from the deputy at a fast pace. Brooks said the deputy called out for Ferguson to stop, but he continued to walk away and put his hands inside his jacket.
The deputy became concerned with Ferguson’s behavior and thought he may have a weapon or was digging into his pockets in order to dump narcotics, Brooks said. After watching Ferguson and his mannerisms, the deputy thought he may be under the influence of a controlled substance.
Ferguson continued walking away and headed towards a white station wagon in the parking lot, Brooks said. Fearing that he might try to get into the vehicle to access a weapon or hide contraband, the deputy told Ferguson that he was not going to allow him to get into the vehicle. Ferguson grabbed the passenger side door handle and tried to open it, but it was locked.
Brooks said the deputy asked Ferguson to turn around and take his hands out of his pockets, which he did reluctantly. The deputy noticed Ferguson appeared to be extremely nervous and was constantly moving around. He also noticed that Ferguson’s pupils were dilated, even for the low light conditions in the parking lot.
Because Ferguson’s behavior and the symptoms he was exhibiting, the deputy told Ferguson that he was being detained, Brooks said.
When the deputy went to handcuff Ferguson, Ferguson started to pull away and told the deputy he was not going to be handcuffed. Ferguson then pulled away and started to run. Brooks said the deputy ordered him to stop several times, but he continued to run. As soon as a second deputy arrived to assist, Ferguson stopped running and was taken into custody.
Ferguson was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance and resisting arrest. He denied using drugs but told the deputy he did take some pills which may have contained methamphetamine. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional facility, Brooks said.
Prior to taking Ferguson inside the facility, he was warned about bringing drugs or contraband into the jail. Brooks said Ferguson then admitted he was in possession of methamphetamine, which the deputy located and seized as evidence. During the booking process, the deputy also charged Ferguson with possession of a controlled substance.
The methamphetamine was later weighed and had a gross weight of 2.8 grams, Brooks said.
Ferguson's bail was set at $35,000. Jail records indicated he remained in custody early Saturday.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.