Absconded Utah parolee & two local felons arrested after Redding search uncovers fentanyl, meth, heroin, Xanax
REDDING, Calif., — Three felons, including one who was found to be an absconded fugitive from justice out of Utah, were arrested as a result of a traffic stop and probation search conducted at a Redding home Friday afternoon, February 25.
During the traffic stop and subsequent search, officers discovered and seized approximately one ounce of suspected fentanyl, along with suspected heroin and methamphetamine. A large amount of Xanax pills and indicia of drug sales were also seized, according to officials.
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City of Redding police officers responded to the Boulder Creek Terrace apartments in the 200 block of Boulder Creek Drive around 4:30 p.m. to conduct a probation search of one of the apartments, Redding Police Sergeant Paul Slagle has since said.
Neighborhood Police Unit (NPU) officers had determined the tenant, Kevin Smith, 38, of Redding, was on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) for vehicle theft, according to the Sergeant.
A traffic stop and related probation search of a Redding home resulted in the seizure of approximately one ounce of suspected fentanyl, along with suspected heroin and methamphetamine. A large amount of Xanax pills and indicia of drug sales were also seized. Redding PD photo
When patrol and NPU officers arrived, they spotted 57-year-old Harrison LeRoy Branum III, a known Redding felon who is on parole for making terrorist threats. He was seen leaving the location in a vehicle being driven by a white female whose name was not released.
Branum, who has a lengthy criminal history, was most recently arrested just five days ago after he and another man were found to be in possession of around four pounds of methamphetamine, along with sales-related packaging material and narcotics paraphernalia. During a related search warrant service, officers also located a submachine gun and an AR-15 rifle, along with ammunition for both firearms.
As reported by SCNS last week, Branum was charged with numerous felonies, including possession of a controlled substance for sales, criminal conspiracy, and violation of parole. However, he was subsequently released on his own recognizance the following morning due to jail overcrowding.
SEE RELATED: Redding search warrant uncovers 4 lbs of meth, illegal firearms – Two arrested
Officers conducted a traffic enforcement stop and searched the vehicle, pursuant to the terms of Branum’s parole. During that search, officers discovered he was in possession of suspected methamphetamine for the purposes of sales and distribution and arrested him.
Then, as officers approached the apartment they had initially responded to, they observed numerous items being discarded out of the apartment’s rear window. The items were later recovered and determined to consist of approximately one ounce of suspected fentanyl, a large amount of Xanax pills, a handgun holster, a digital scale, and suspected heroin.
Upon entering the apartment, officers located and detained Smith. Karl Zimmerman, 44, who was soon determined to be an absconded parolee from Utah, and an adult female whose name was not released were also detained.
In addition to the items seen being discarded out the apartment’s back window, the search uncovered digital scales, packaging materials, and other indicia of narcotics sales and distribution, according to Slagle, who said a large amount of US currency was also seized.
Three men were arrested as a result of yesterday’s traffic stop and related probation search. Redding PD photos
Smith was later booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of possessing narcotics for sales and distribution. Additional charges will be sought for maintaining a residence for the purposes of distributing narcotics, according to Slagle.
Branum was booked into jail on suspicion of possessing narcotics for the purpose of sales and distribution.
Online jail records indicate both men have since been released and are no longer in custody.
Zimmerman was booked for being a fugitive from justice and remains in custody while awaiting extradition back to the state of Utah.
Anyone with further information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 22R012306 and can remain anonymous.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 51, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and operates Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS), which act as stringer-news providers for other mainstream media organizations throughout the two regions they serve.
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.