On June 7, at about 8 p.m. Mineral County Sheriff’s Deputy Gabe Andrada stopped a vehicle with California plates for speeding

Harvey

On June 7, at about 8 p.m. Mineral County Sheriff’s Deputy Gabe Andrada stopped a vehicle with California plates for speeding. As the deputy approached

Rode

On June 7, at about 8 p.m. Mineral County Sheriff’s Deputy Gabe Andrada stopped a vehicle with California plates for speeding. As the deputy approached the car, he noted the smell of marijuana.

Andrada searched the vehicle and found marijuana packaged in a way that lead the deputy to believe it was intended for sale. He also found drug paraphernalia and an amount of cocaine.

Andrada also discovered the driver, Richard Lewis Harvey, 25, of Arcata California, was driving with a suspended license. “I guess if you’re going to drive a car with drugs in it, you might as well drive with a suspended license while you’re at it,” Sheriff Stewart Handte commented.

Andrada arrested the driver of the vehicle, Richard Harvey, for the above charges as well as transporting a controlled substance and driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

Andrada also cited a passenger, Ashleigh Brooke Rode, 23, for possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of controlled substance (cocaine), transporting a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.

Harvey’s bail was set at $34,975, and bail was set for rode in the amount of $28,640.

“A speeding infraction led to another drug bust, and to put the icing on the cake, found in the vehicle and on their possession, was over $12,000, which no one seemed to have a viable explanation to where the money came from,” Sheriff Handte said.

The money was seized in conjunction with the felony drug crimes. The sheriff also said he would go for seizure of the funds though the district attorney’s office.

“It’s well known through the newspaper and other sources, that we have a zero-tolerance drug police in Mineral County. Apparently Arcata didn’t get the memo,” Handte concluded.