INVESTIGATION INTO TRESPASSING LEADS TO FELON FOUND WITH WEAPONS, SUSPECTED DRUGS

The removal of trespassers from a red-tagged property in Yucca Valley led to the arrest of a Yucca Valley Man for weapons and drug charges. At 7:30 a.m. on Thursday (March 17), Sherrif’s Deputies assisted the town of Yucca Valley with a red-tag property. While there, deputies said they observed that an electrical panel was being bypassed and electricity was being stolen, along with several other code violations. The residents of the property were found to be trespassing, according to deputies. Douglas Smith, 63, was identified as the landlord of the property and was allegedly renting to the residents under fraudulent terms. A search warrant was served to Smith’s motorhome, revealing possible stolen property, a 12 gauge pump shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle, several rounds of ammunition, suspected  methamphetamine, and packaging consistent with the sales of methamphetamine, according to deputies. Smith was arrested and charged with theft of utilities, being a felon in possession of firearm and ammunition, being a felon in possession of a controlled substance while armed, and possession of controlled substance for sales, and is currently being held at West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $50,000 bail.