Two in custody on drug charges after CHP, LCSO cooperate in arrests
Cooperation between the Susanville California Highway Patrol and the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office resulted in two arrests on drug charges.
According to a statement from the CHP, about 7 p.m. Friday, March 17, a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) was issued for a SUV driving recklessly.
A CHP officer saw a similar matching vehicle traveling north on Highway 395 near Lassen County Road A3. As the CHP officer turned on the vehicle, it turned into the Janesville Chevron on Janesville Grade.
As the officer pulled in behind the SUV, he saw a male passenger exit the vehicle and walk into the gas station store. The officer approached the SUV, a Honda CRV, and noticed the ignition had been tampered with, pliers were being used to turn the car on and off and the wiring was exposed.
The driver, Skylar Lowery, of Albany, Oregon, did not have a valid driver’s license, so the officer impounded the vehicle and inventoried its contents. During the inventory, the officer discovered what appeared to be a jar of large psilocybin mushrooms and a large quantity of pills that appeared to be either oxycodone or fentanyl.
The officer attempted to locate the passenger, who had entered the gas station, and learned he had fled out the back door. The driver was arrested for possession of illegal drugs and possession with the intent to sell due to the large quantity of drugs located and a BOLO was issued for the passenger who had fled the scene.
About 1:25 p.m. the next day, Saturday, March 18, a Lassen County Sheriff’s deputy responded to assist after the CHP reported the suspect from the night before was currently at the Janesville Chevron. The CHP requested the suspect, later identified as Asa Williams, of Philomath, Oregon, be detained until their arrival.
A deputy contacted and attempted to detain Williams inside the store, but he resisted, pushed the deputy and ran out the back door of the store. The deputy gave chase and caught Williams by an adjacent residence.
A CHP officer arrived and assisted the deputy in searching Williams, and they found a small baggie of round blue pills and a separate baggie of a white crystalline substance, consistent with methamphetamine in his pocket. The round blue pills were believed to be either oxycodone or fentanyl pills.
While continuing their search, the subject dove onto the hood of the patrol car and took a mouthful of pills from the baggie. Williams was taken to the ground, and he spit out a large clump of the pills. He was given saline solution and water to rinse out his mouth several times.
Williams was arrested and booked into the Lassen County Jail on charges of obstructing/resisting a peace officer, destroying/concealing evidence and possession of a narcotic controlled substance.
According to the statement, the CHP offered, “A huge shoutout to our allied agency, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office.”