LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Police on Saturday afternoon arrested a local man who appeared to be about to take a number of items from a vacant residence.
Robert Stephen Laplante, 46, was arrested for prowling, trespassing and drug-related charges, according to Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Just after 1 p.m. Saturday an alert citizen contacted Lakeport Police and reported a suspicious male subject and vehicle at a vacant residence in the 600 block of Armstrong Street, Rasmussen said.
Lakeport Police officers responded to investigate and located Laplante standing outside of a beige Toyota pickup that was backed up to a locked driveway gate, according to Rasmussen.
Numerous items of property, believed to be associated with the residence, were located near the locked gate and bed of the pickup. Rasmussen said officers believed that Laplante was in the process of stealing items from the premises.
A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy who responded to the scene to assist conducted a search of Laplante and his vehicle and located a hypodermic syringe believed to contain methamphetamine, Rasmussen said. Additionally, the deputy determined that Laplante was under the influence of methamphetamine.
Laplante is known to law enforcement with prior arrests for drug-related charges, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said Laplante was transported to the Lake County Correctional Facility where he was booked.
The Lakeport Police Department appreciates the efforts of alert citizens reporting suspicious behavior in the community, Rasmussen said.
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