Lake County Man's Great Deal On A Stolen Car Leads To Drug Arrest
LAKE COUNTY (CBS13) — A man who tried telling police he got a great deal on a car was arrested on suspicion of having a stolen vehicle and drug-related charges.
Deputies say they found a vehicle idling in the middle of the Schindler Street in the Clearlake Oaks area. When the deputy found Fred Pearl, 35 of Upper Lake, he admitted to being the driver and owner of the 2015 vehicle that was in new condition.
Pearl told the deputy he purchased it for $5,500 from a woman, but had no phone number or paperwork showing he was the owner of the car. Hearing that Pearl had apparently gotten the deal of a century on a relatively new car, the deputy did a records check and found it was reported stolen by a Southern California rental company.
A second deputy arrived and did a pat-down search of passenger Matthew Labrash, 41, of Lakeport. A methamphetamine pipe was found in his sock. Deputies also noticed the strong smell of marijuana and found a trash bag with four bags of processed marijuana in the trunk. They also found a clear one-gallon bag of marijuana in the center console, and a red rubber tray with concentrated cannabis under a child's booster seat.
Labrash claimed ownership of the marijuana in the vehicle and said it was personal use. When asked why he was riding around with 3.5 pounds of processed marijuana and 2.38 pounds of concentrated cannabis, he said, "No comment."
Pearl was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and for committing a felony while out on bail.
Labrash was arrested for possession of marijuana for sale, transportation of marijuana, possession of concentrated cannabis, possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.