KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A vehicle pursuit on Tuesday night ended with the arrests of two Kelseyville residents and the seizure of marijuana, methamphetamine and hypodermic needles.
Lonnie Ray Scott, 43, and Michelle Lynn Havens, 48, were arrested following the pursuit, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
At approximately 10:15 p.m. Tuesday a patrol deputy was working the Kelseyville area when he observed a motorcycle with two occupants fail to stop at the intersection of Cal Packing and Finley Road East, Brooks said.
He said the deputy followed the motorcycle as it turned onto Finley Road East towards Kelseyville and noticed the driver appeared to have difficulty maintaining balance of the motorcycle or a constant speed.
The motorcycle continued into Kelseyville on Big Valley Road and turned left onto Merritt. As the motorcycle came to the intersection of Merritt and Gunn, the driver failed to properly stop the motorcycle, Brooks said.
The deputy activated his emergency lights, attempting to conduct an enforcement stop of the motorcycle, Brooks said. The driver ignored the deputy and attempted to rapidly accelerate away.
Brooks said the deputy followed as the motorcycle turned right onto Willow and then right onto Park, failing to stop at the stop sign. The deputy continued to follow the motorcycle through Kelseyville as the driver attempted to elude law enforcement, while committing numerous vehicle code violations in the process.
The deputy said during the pursuit that the occupants appeared to be throwing narcotics and paraphernalia from the motorcycle, Brooks reported.
The motorcycle turned southbound on Highway 29, where it continued until it got to the intersection of Soda Bay Road, where it crossed over the double yellow lines into the opposing lane and ran the red light, turning left onto Soda Bay Road, Brooks said.
Brooks said the pursuit continued through the Clear Lake Riviera until the motorcycle turned onto Marina Drive, which is a dead end road.
Once the motorcycle reached the end of the pavement, the driver pulled over, Brooks said. Both Scott and Havens were taken into custody immediately and without further incident at that point.
Brooks said the vehicle pursuit was terminated after an estimated 17 minutes, covering approximately 15 miles.
The driver, identified as Scott, told deputies that his passenger had asked him to stop and explained that all of the drugs were his, Brooks said.
The passenger, identified as Havens, told deputies that she was Scott’s wife. Brooks said Havens said she told Scott several times to stop and denied throwing any narcotics during the pursuit.
A search of the motorcycle produced a duffel bag that contained a large amount of marijuana, a scale and hypodermic needles and syringes, Brooks said.
When deputies searched Scott, they located a large amount of methamphetamine. Brooks said the amount located was much more than what is typically carried for personal use.
Deputies also located a methamphetamine pipe, a small amount of marijuana in a plastic bag and a hypodermic needle and syringe in Scott’s possession. Brooks said all of the items were seized as evidence.
Brooks said Scott was arrested for evading a peace officer, possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of marijuana for sale, being under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and destroying or concealing evidence. Havens was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Both Havens and Scott were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.
The marijuana located inside the duffel bag was later weighed and had an approximate gross weight of 19 pounds. Brooks said the methamphetamine was also weighed and determined to have a gross weight of 7.39 grams.
Deputies searched the areas where items were thrown from the motorcycle and located several hypodermic needles and syringes, which were seized, according to Brooks.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.