A Susanville man faces a handful of charges after the Susanville’s Police Department’s K9 Unit Zeke alerted officers to the presence of drugs during a traffic stop Friday, which then led officers to then search a residence on Gilman Street, where they found a variety of suspected narcotics and several firearms.
According to details provided by the department, shortly before 1:00a.m., an officer conducted a traffic stop in the area of Third and Park Streets for a minor traffic violation and identified the driver as 35-year-old Susanville resident Justin Gene Lord.
“During the encounter, Susanville Police K-9 Zeke conducted an air sniff outside the vehicle after a white powder was observed inside the front compartment,” explains Public Safety Chief Michael Bengoa-Bollinger.
“K-9 Zeke showed a positive alert. A search of the vehicle resulted in Officers locating a loaded handgun near the driver’s seat.”
Lord was arrested at the scene for illegal possession of a loaded firearm, and a subsequent search resulted in the seizure of approximately $3,400 dollars in cash and 9.2 grams of suspected Fentanyl.
Later that day a search warrant was executed at Lord’s residence on South Gilman Street.
“During the search, officers located various amounts of suspected Fentanyl, Heroin, Psilocybin Mushrooms and scales. Also seized from the residence were three AR-15-style rifles, one shotgun, and one pistol. Numerous rounds of ammunition were also seized.”
Lord was charged with Committing a crime while out on Bail; Possession of a controlled substance for sale; Possession of a controlled substance while armed; Possession of a firearm(s) by a prohibited person; Possession of a short-barreled rifle and Possession of ammunition by a prohibited person.
“The Susanville Police Department would like to thank the California Highway Patrol, SEMSA and Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for assisting with the successful execution of the operation.”
