Shasta Lake traffic stop yields firearms, ammo, and meth – Local felon arrested

CITY OF SHASTA LAKE, Calif., — Authorities say a local felon was arrested after a traffic stop and subsequent search warrant led to the discovery of more than a half-dozen firearms – including one that had been reported as stolen, ammunition, more than 14 grams of methamphetamine for sales, and narcotics-related paraphernalia Monday, Dec. 27.

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Monday’s incident began when a Shasta County sheriff’s deputy assigned to Shasta Lake conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a 2010 Cadillac CTS with Michigan plates that had expired in 2019.

Upon contacting the driver, Damon Odell Dennis of Shasta Lake, the deputy learned that he was driving on a suspended license and had been stopped and contacted in the same vehicle on multiple occasions during the past two years, according to Shasta County Sheriff’s Office officials.

Authorities say a traffic stop and subsequent search warrant served at a Shasta Lake residence led to the discovery of eight firearms, ammunition, methamphetamine for sales, and narcotics sales related paraphernalia. Shasta County Sheriff’s Office – Shasta Lake Station photo

“When the deputy asked Dennis if there was anything illegal inside his vehicle, Dennis told the deputy there was ammunition in the vehicle and went on to tell the deputy he was a convicted felon,” SCSO explained.

After obtaining consent to search Dennis’ vehicle, the deputy discovered two types of handgun ammunition, three baggies with a combined total of more than 14 grams of methamphetamine, and narcotic use and sales-related paraphernalia, according to officials who went on to say, “The amount of methamphetamine found and the way it was packaged made it indicative of sales.”

During further questioning, Dennis admitted that despite being a felon, he had a handgun and rifle at his residence.

Based on their investigation, deputies arrested Dennis and he was booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of being a felon in possession of ammunition and possession of narcotics for sales.

However, the sheriff’s investigation did not end there and within hours of Dennis’ arrest – and while he was still in custody – deputies had obtained a search warrant for the felon’s Shasta Lake residence.

With assistance from the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force (SINTF), Shasta Lake deputies served the search warrant, which yielded additional methamphetamine, scales, packaging consistent with the type located during the traffic stop, additional ammunition, and a total of seven rifles and one handgun.

“A records check revealed one of the rifles was reported stolen to the Redding Police in 2013,” SCSO went on to explain; adding, “Another rifle, a Russian SKS, was found not to be California compliant by not having a fixed magazine.”

Based on the evidence discovered and seized during the search warrant, deputies added the charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, possession of an assault weapon, possession of narcotics for the purpose of sales, transportation of a controlled substance, child endangerment, possession of high-capacity magazines, negligent storage of a firearm where child is present, possession of stolen property, driving with an expired license, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Online jail records indicate he has since been released and is no longer in custody.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

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 30 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 18 grandchildren.