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Two local men arrested following vehicle stop; meth, marijuana seized
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – A vehicle stop conducted last Thursday evening resulted in two arrests, and the seizure of methamphetamine and processed marijuana.
Lt. Steve Brooks said the Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force arrested 34-year-old Richard Brendon Hinds of Lucerne and Justin Paul Spellman, 31, of Lakeport following the stop.
At 6:38 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, a member of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force was traveling westbound on E. State Highway 20 in Upper Lake when he observed ahead of him a Chrysler sedan that did not have a rear license plate properly displayed, Brooks said.
The vehicle turned left from the highway into a parking lot without activating the proper turn indicator and failed to stay in the proper lane while turning, according to Brooks.
Brooks said the narcotics detective conducted an enforcement stop of the vehicle in the 600 block of East State Highway 20 in Upper Lake.
The detective contacted the driver of the vehicle, who was identified as Hinds, and also contacted a passenger in the vehicle who was identified as Spellman, Brooks said.
While speaking to Hinds, the detective could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle, Brooks said. When asked, Hinds admitted to having two or three marijuana cigarettes in the vehicle.
A K9 unit arrived to assist with the enforcement stop. Brooks said the K9 officer deployed his partner to conduct an exterior sniff of the vehicle. The canine positively alerted to several areas of the vehicle, indicating there was the odor of a controlled substance present.
During a search of the vehicle, narcotics detectives located a burnt marijuana cigarette inside a soda can, which contained soda. The soda can was located in a cup holder, in the center console, between both Hinds and Spellman, Brooks said.
Detectives also located a plastic bag inside the same soda can. Brooks said that when the bag was removed from the can, detectives noticed it contained a white crystalline substance, recognized to be methamphetamine.
The bag was open while it was inside the can, causing the majority of the methamphetamine to fall out of the bag into the soda fluid. Brooks said it was apparent to detectives that Hinds and Spellman put the methamphetamine in the soda, in an attempt to destroy or conceal evidence.
Detectives were able to seize 1.3 grams of methamphetamine from the plastic bag inside the soda can. Brooks said they also located a duffel bag in the vehicle which contained 43.84 ounces of processed marijuana and 7.2 grams of concentrated cannabis.
Brooks said all of those items, including the liquid inside the soda can, were seized as evidence.
Hinds was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana for sale, possession of concentrated cannabis and sales of concentrated cannabis. Brooks said detectives located $840 in Hinds possession which was seized pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
Spellman was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and for destroying or concealing evidence, Brooks said.
They were both transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. Hinds' bail was set at $20,000 while Spellman's bail was $15,000. Hinds remained in custody on Tuesday, while Spellman had posted bail and was released.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.