Four arrested in Tehama County drug enforcement operation - Record-Searchlight

Phipps

Robb

Petty

Drug enforcement agents in Tehama County said they arrested four people Friday during three separate incidents after finding drugs or weapons in each case.

Agents first stopped a vehicle driven by Travis Nelson, 33, of San Diego on Highway 36 near Bowman Road.

During the traffic stop agents found Nelson was carrying a switchblade knife. Agents also searched his car and found a police baton, said Dave Kain, commander of the Tehama Interagency Drug Enforcement (TIDE) Task Force.

Nelson was arrested on suspicion of possessing an illegal weapon.

TIDE agents then helped out a disabled vehicle in the same area. While assisting the occupants, agents smelled marijuana in the vehicle and searched it. They found 6 ½-pounds of marijuana, an assault rifle and four 30-round magazines of ammunition, Kain said.

Daniel Phipps and Eric Robb, both 20 and of Sacramento, were arrested on suspicion of possessing marijuana for sale and transporting marijuana. Robb was also arrested on suspicion of being armed while committing a felony and possessing an illegal weapon.

Phipps is being held today in the Tehama County Jail in lieu of $40,000 bail, while Robb is being held in lieu of $80,000.

Later in the day in Red Bluff, agents spotted a suspicious vehicle parked in front of several closed businesses on the 700 block Antelope Boulevard. Agents contacted the vehicle's owner, 40-year-old David Petty of Red Bluff, who had an outstanding felony arrest warrant and several misdemeanor warrants, Kain said.

TIDE agents also searched Petty's vehicle and found marijuana, a glass methamphetamine pipe and small amount of meth.

Petty was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs and the warrants. He's being held in the jail today without bail.