Suspected of recent gas thefts and wanted on multiple warrants, McArthur man arrested with narcotics & firearm
MCARTHUR, Calif., — Authorities say a local man with an extensive criminal history was arrested after a traffic stop led to the discovery of methamphetamine and a loaded and concealed firearm, as well as burglary tools and items typically associated with fuel theft Wednesday evening, July 20th. Last night’s stop was the result of an ongoing investigation into a significant increase in recent fuel thefts, which have been plaguing the community of McArthur as well as surrounding Intermountain area towns, according to officials.
The alleged suspect, Glen Owen Filippone, 33, of McArthur, was also found to be driving on a suspended license and was discovered to have multiple local warrants, including warrants for hit and run resulting in property damage, possession of methamphetamine, resisting and/or obstructing arrest, failure to appear and violation of probation.
After receiving multiple complaints regarding recent fuel thefts and being sent tips by concerned citizens and frustrated victims that indicated that many of the thefts were being conducted by a man driving a white Toyota Tacoma, California Highway Patrol officers and Shasta County sheriff’s deputies began searching for the distinctive pickup truck, CHP Officer Chris Ogden told SCNS after Wednesday evening’s arrest. The truck was further described as having a black tailgate, black headache rack and rear bumpers, black fender flares, and oversized tires.
While many of the thefts had been reported as occurring from a parking lot adjacent the boat launch ramp at Big Lake in McArthur, other thefts suspected of having been committed by the same person in the Tacoma included the theft of around 250 gallons of diesel fuel that was stolen from one private Intermountain area property, according to Ogden.
Some of the tips sent to area law enforcement agencies included photographs and surveillance footage from victims and witnesses that showed the thefts being committed by a man who appeared to be driving the same Tacoma.
As the investigations continued and more fuel thefts continued to be reported, officials received additional information and photographs of the suspect’s vehicle, after he was allegedly caught in the act of siphoning fuel from a vehicle that was parked at Big Lake and chased from the area by witnesses, according to Ogden.
Ogden further stated that one of the photographs revealed the vehicle’s license plate and led officers and deputies to narrow their search to Filippone and his vehicle.
At around 10:15 p.m. last night, Ogden was conducting routine patrol along SR-299E, just west of McArthur Road, when he spotted Filippone driving the opposite direction in the Tacoma. After turning around and pulling behind the Toyota, Ogden saw five large gasoline jugs in the bed of the pickup. The jugs appeared to be the same as the ones that could be seen in the photos sent to officers after the recent incident at Big Lake, leading him to conduct an investigatory traffic stop.
While speaking with Filippone, Ogden noticed what appeared to be the butt of a handgun sticking out of his waistband at which time he requested assistance and SCSO Deputy Brown responded to the location to assist in safely removing Filippone from the Toyota and detaining him for further investigation.
After handcuffing Filippone and removing the loaded handgun from his waistband, Ogden conducted a records check and learned the firearm was registered to a deceased man from the Eureka area. During a subsequent search of his pockets, Ogden and Brown discovered that Filippone was in possession of methamphetamine and arrested him.
In addition to the gas jugs found in the back of the pickup, Ogden and Brown located burglary tools including shaved keys typically used for accessing and stealing vehicles, rubber hosing and items typically used for siphoning fuel, multiple batteries, tires and other vehicle parts, and other suspicious items that indicated someone driving the vehicle may have been involved in criminal activity.
Filippone was later booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of being in possession of methamphetamine, carrying a loaded and concealed firearm without a permit, possession of burglary tools, and driving on a suspended license. He was also booked on his numerous warrants, according to Ogden.
Online jail records indicate he was released on his own recognizance within hours of being booked into jail and is no longer in custody.
Ogden went on to say that only one of the gasoline jugs in the truck’s bed was found to have diesel fuel in it and it could not be immediately determined where the fuel had come from. He also explained that despite being suspected of at least some of the recent fuel thefts, those cases remain open and Shasta County sheriff’s deputies will be continuing to gather evidence related to those thefts.
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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). Both are stringer organizations, providing breaking news coverage and community interest stories 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.