CLEARLAKE OAKS – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office reported that its newly formed Community Recovery Unit made five drug-related arrests last week at two residences deputies have repeatedly visited over the past year.

A report from Sgt. Brian Martin of the sheriff's Investigation Division said that on Jan. 9 recovery unit members Sgt. Chris Chwialkowski and Deputy Rich Ward, along with deputies John Gregore and Joe Dutra, responded to the residence of Lacey Jay Blesio, 25, and Anthony James Pierce, 25, in the 12000 block of Lakeland Street.

Upon their arrival, the deputies contacted Blesio and Pierce inside the residence, Martin reported. Blesio was on probation as a result of a prior court conviction.

Two large dogs were in the house and Pierce took them to a back bedroom to secure them. While in the bedroom, Martin reported that Pierce allegedly threw some drug paraphernalia out the bedroom window.

Deputies recovered the drug paraphernalia and subsequently arrested Pierce, said Martin. During a search of Pierce’s person after the arrest, he was found to be in possession of what Chwialkowski recognized to be methamphetamine.

Ward detected a chemical odor in the air inside the residence that he believed was the smell of freshly smoked methamphetamine, according to Martin.

Further investigation revealed that Blesio allegedly was under the influence of a controlled substance, Martin reported. A search of her residence also revealed that she was in possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both Blesio and Pierce were booked into custody at the Lake County Jail. Blesio was charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and use of controlled substances, with bail set at $2,000, according to jail records.

Pierce was booked on misdemeanor charges of possession of controlled substance paraphernalia and destroying or concealing evidence, and felony possession of a controlled substance. During a booking search, a small amount of marijuana allegedly was found in Pierce’s possession, which gained him an additional felony charge. His bail was set at $15,000.

The Community Recovery Unit carried out a second set of arrests on the evening of Jan. 10, Martin reported.

In that case, Chwialkowski and Ward responded to the 13000 block of Ebb Tide Village in Clearlake Oaks, where county Code Enforcement Officer Allison Garrett informed them that a residence on that street had been served with a notice of nuisance – or a red tag – on Dec. 18, according to Martin.

The residence was red-tagged because it was deemed uninhabitable due to there being no water service, said Martin. When there is no water service at a residence, use of the residence becomes unlawful because County Code section 9-17.2 requires that there be an acceptable means for sewage disposal. A residence that lacks the proper methods for disposal of sewage can pose significant health and safety problems for anyone who occupies it and those who live near it.

When they went to the front door, the deputies found the red tag had been removed and there were signs that someone was living in the home, Martin reported.

When they knocked, a male voice answered them from inside, said Martin. The deputies identified themselves, advised the man that occupying the residence was unlawful and they demanded entry.

However, the man refused to allow them in and also refused to come out, said Martin. Deputies forced entry where they found the house owner, April Melakia Johnson, 28; along with Kelin Davis, 33, of Vacaville; and Prentice Rodrequez Thompson, 38, of Oakland, inside.

Johnson allegedly admitted to deputies that she had removed the red tag and that she had not yet had water service restored, Martin reported. She claimed that she was going to pay the water bill the

following day.

During the investigation, deputies believe that Johnson attempted to dispose of some drugs in an effort to prevent discovery by law enforcement, Martin reported. Deputy Ward recovered what he recognized to be packaging material for drugs, and a small amount of what appeared to be cocaine.

Johnson was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanors including destroying or concealing evidence, resisting or obstructing a peace officer, trespassing, destroying a notice posted by law and a bench warrant, with bail set at $17,000, according to jail records.

Davis and Thompson were arrested for misdemeanor trespassing, with Thompson additionally being charged with obstructing an officer, Martin reported. No bail amounts were assigned to either man.

Code Enforcement continues to investigate the habitability of the residence, said Martin.

During 2007, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to Blesio and Pierce's address on Lakeland Street on 23 different occasions, and to Johnson's address on Ebbtide Village 28 different times for various reasons, according to Martin, including reported disturbances, fights, medical assistance calls, warrant services and other incidents.

During some of those calls for service, neighbors in the residential areas expressed concern over the number of times that law enforcement had been called to the same location, Martin reported. At the time of those calls for service, the Community Recovery Unit was not yet in existence.

The Lake County Community Recovery Unit is comprised of a sheriff’s deputy and sergeant, Martin reported. Their mission is to work in conjunction with other county agencies, such as Lake County Animal Care and Control, Lake County Code Enforcement and the Lake County Probation Department to address issues within the community.

Martin said the group's ultimate goal is to work as a team to ensure a good quality of life for the community by addressing those issues which adversely affect people who reside within the community.

{mos_sb_discus:2}