Lake Elsinore search warrant yields more than 11 pounds of meth, heroin

January 4, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

LAKE ELSINORE — Authorities in Lake Elsinore say a domestic violence related search warrant led to the arrest of a man who was found to be in possession of more than ten pounds of methamphetamine along with more than a pound of heroin.

The combined estimated street value for the illegal narcotics was around $213,000, according to officials. A large amount of currency was also seized after the early-morning search warrant, which officials served at a private residence on the 100 block of Kellogg St., Thursday, Jan. 2.

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The incident that led to the arrest began after deputies from the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station responded to a domestic disturbance call last Thursday, Riverside Sheriff’s Sgt. Glenn Warrington reported after the arrest.

Based on the circumstances, members of the station’s Problem Oriented Policing Team assisted patrol deputies with the investigation.

Sheriff’s officials say they recovered more than ten pounds of methamphtamine and more than a pound of heroin while serving a search warrant in Lake Elsinore. RSO photos

During the investigation, it was determined 49-year-old, Lake Elsinore resident, Paul Rudy Puga, was involved in the illicit sales of narcotics and controlled substances, according to Warrington.

As the investigation was continuing, deputies authored and served a search warrant just after midnight at Puga’s Lake Elsinore home.

While serving the warrant and searching Puga’s residence, deputies located and seized more than ten pounds of methamphetamine and more than a pound of heroin.

“The estimated street value for the methamphetamine was determined to be over $180,000 and the street value estimation for the heroin is over $33,000,” explained Warrington; who said Puga was also found to be in possession of a “large amount” of U.S. currency, which was also seized.

Based on their investigation and findings, deputies arrested Puga.

Paul Puga, 49, of Lake Elsinore was arrested after a search warrant uncovered more than eleven pounds of illegal narcotics as well as a “large amount” of U.S. currency. RSO booking photo

According to Warrington, Puga was booked into Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine and heroin with the intent to distribute. However, online jail records indicate Puga was booked on suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle.

Jail records indicate he remains held on $10,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at Murrieta’s Southwest Justice Center, Jan 7.

Anyone with information related to this investigation or Puga’s alleged criminal activities are encouraged to contact Deputies Chambers or McCracken of the Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Station at (951) 245-3300. Callers can refer to incident file number L200030003 and can remain anonymous. Citizens may also submit an anonymous tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta County.

Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)

During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.

Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.

Trevor has been married for more than 29 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 16 grandchildren.