The following is a press release issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 03-23-2022 at about 10:25 PM, a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy noticed a vehicle parked along a group of mailboxes on Hearst Willits Road near Reynolds Highway in Willits, California.
Due to the time of night and recent mail thefts, the Deputy stopped to contact the occupants. As he pulled up the vehicle drove away. The Deputy followed the vehicle and noticed it made an abrupt turn into a driveway.
The Deputy stopped the vehicle and contacted the two occupants. The driver was identified as Liam Smith and the passenger was an adult female.
The Deputy learned the subjects did not live at the address they pulled into and did not know the residents. The Deputy conducted a records check on both subjects and found Smith was on probation with terms to obey all laws and submit to search.
A search of the vehicle was conducted. In a plastic container, with magnets attached to it, was suspected controlled substance, a digital scale, packaging material and other drug paraphernalia.
There was more drug paraphernalia located in the center console. Due to the evidence and the Deputy’s training and experience, the controlled substance appeared to be possessed for sale.
Smith was arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale (11378 HS), construction of a false compartment (11366.8(B) HS), and violation of probation (1203.2 PC).
Smith was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $25,000.00 bail.
