CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The service of a search warrant on Feb. 7 has resulted in the arrest of a Clearlake Oaks man, and the seizure of two firearms and approximately 1.5 ounces of methamphetamine.

Detectives arrested 31-year-old Robert Russell McDarment during the warrant service, which occurred last Friday night, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

On Jan. 31 narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for McDarment's person, home and vehicle, serving it last Friday at 9:45 p.m., Brooks said.

Brooks said detectives entered the residence, located in the 13000 block of Marina Village in Clearlake Oaks, and detained McDarment without incident.

Detectives said they also contacted five children living at the residence, all of whom were under 10 years of age, Brooks said.

After making entry into the residence, narcotics detectives located a large surveillance monitor in the master bedroom. Brooks said the monitor was displaying live footage from four different externally mounted cameras.

In the bedroom there also was a scanner that was actively monitoring radio traffic from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Brooks said.

McDarment denied having any illegal drugs, contraband or weapons inside the residence, according to Brooks' report.

During a search of the master bedroom, detectives located a plastic bag containing a white semi-translucent substance inside a dresser drawer. Brooks said the substance was immediately recognized as being methamphetamine and had a gross weight of 20.1 grams.

Narcotics detectives estimated that the drawer was approximately 3 feet from the floor level, making the contents very accessible to the children, Brooks said.

At McDarment’s request, detectives color-tested a portion of the substance in his presence. Brooks said the chemicals turned purple, giving a presumptive positive for methamphetamine.

McDarment later told detectives that he had added methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM, to the methamphetamine, Brooks said. MSM is a dietary supplement commonly added as a cutting agent in order to increase the seller's yield.

Brooks said McDarment also told detectives that he would heat the MSM with a torch, which causes it to crystallize, giving it a closer resemblance to crystal methamphetamine.

Detectives located a floor-mounted safe in the master bedroom. At first McDarment denied knowing the combination or the safe's contents, Brooks said.

However, Brooks said that once detectives started to pry the door open, McDarment admitted that the safe contained additional methamphetamine, scales, two firearms and ammunition for the firearms. He said he was selling drugs to pay the bills.

Detectives opened the safe and located two revolvers, one of which was loaded. They also located a plastic bag containing an additional 24.1 grams of methamphetamine, a digital gram scale, a digital ounce scale, 46.3 grams of processed marijuana, a glass meth pipe and two 10 milligram hydrocodone pills, all of which were seized as evidence, according to Brooks.

The total weight of the methamphetamine was 44.2 grams or approximately 1.56 ounces, Brooks said.

McDarment was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale, possession of a controlled substance while armed, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, Brooks said.

McDarment was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. His bail was set at $25,000, and jail records indicated he later posted the required percentage of bail and was released.

Due to the fact that McDarment stored a large quantity of methamphetamine in a drawer easily accessible to his children, narcotics detectives are requesting the Lake County District Attorney's Office review this investigation for the added charge of child endangerment, Brooks said.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.