Tahoe cops arrest 3 men on drug, weapons charges

Three men spent Presidents Day in the El Dorado County Jail in South Lake Tahoe after being pulled over on a routine traffic stop.

Officer Travis Cabral pulled Brian Morris of Sacramento over about 4pm Feb. 18 when he saw the vehicle going the wrong way on Pioneer Trail. Jeremy Watkins and Michaelann Campbell, also from Sacramento, were passengers in the vehicle.

The combination of the smell of marijuana coming from the car and Morris saying he had no ID and then giving a false date of birth led to all three men being told to keep their hands in view. By this time Officers Jake Herminghaus and Matt Morrison, with his K9 partner Quatro, were on the scene.

“Suddenly, Morris dropped his hands out of view and began reaching under his seat. Officer Cabral drew his handgun and ordered Morris to show his hands, but Morris refused and continued reaching under his seat,” a press release from the SLTPD reads. “Officer Herminghaus also drew his weapon as Officer Morrison opened the front passenger door and presented his K9, Quatro. It was only then that Morris complied with the orders given by the officers and brought his hands back into view.”

A search of the vehicle turned up a loaded handgun under Morris’ seat next to 27.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine. An additional 5.2 grams of marijuana was found under the drivers’ seat and center console of the vehicle, according to officers.

Morris was booked on charges of possession of a controlled substance with a loaded firearm, possession of a firearm with a prior violent offense, prohibited person possessing ammunition, concealed weapon inside a vehicle, transporting a controlled substance, driving while under the influence, providing false information to a peace officer, resisting arrest and conspiracy to commit a felony. Watkins and Campbell were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit a felony and transporting a controlled substance.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report