Five Susanville residents were arrested Wednesday after an early morning standoff with Sheriff’s Deputies, who were serving a high-risk warrant at a residence on Dillon Court in Susanville.
“Due to the risk to public safety and complexity of the location, the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office Special Weapons and Tactics team was deployed to serve the search warrant,” explains LCSO Captain Mike Carney.
The LCSO Drone Team was also deployed to assist.
“Upon the arrival of the SWAT Team at the residence, Crisis Negotiation Team members utilized a Public Address System to call the occupants out of the residence. One suspect immediately exited the rear of the residence and fled the area on foot.”
According to Carney the Drone Team was able to observe the fleeing suspect and direct perimeter units to the suspects location where he was taken into custody. The suspect was identified as 37 year-old Susanville resident Drew Dixon.
SWAT Team members were able to determine there were still several people inside the residence that were refusing to surrender.
“The CNT continued to use the Public Address System to order the remaining occupants out of the residence. A female subject exited the residence and was taken into custody without incident.”
The female subject was identified as 25 year-old Susanville resident Jenna Miles.
Law enforcement continued to call into the house using the Public Address System to negotiate a peaceful surrender of the remaining occupants to no avail.
“SWAT Team members deployed a pepper-type gas into the residence in attempt to get the remaining occupants to surrender.”
Carney explains that the gas is designed to be an eye, nose and skin irritant.
A few minutes later three occupants surrendered and exited the residence, suffering from the effects of the gas, and were subsequently taken into custody without further incident.
The three occupants were identified as 59 year-old Susanville resident Paula Dixon; 59 year-old Susanville resident Donald Luna and 36 year-old Susanville resident Ameko Vaimasanuu Jr.
A search of the residence yielded several illegal firearms, ammunition, and controlled substances. Several of the firearms seized were AR-15 and SKS-style assault rifles with high capacity magazines. A sawed-off shotgun was also seized.
All five individuals were placed under arrest and transported to the Lassen County Jail.
In November 2022, The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office applied for a Gun Violence Reduction Program grant from the California Department of Justice. The grant funds were approved and awarded to the Sheriff’s Office. “
The grant funds are currently being used to target prohibited persons that are in possession of firearms. According to Carney this operation is a direct result of the grant funding, provided by the GVRP grant.
“The Lassen County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the California Highway Patrol, the Susanville Police Department, and the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for their assistance in this operation.”
