When the local law enforcement knows you by sight, it is probably best to stay out of their way, especially if you are carrying illegal drugs with you, are on parole, and have a warrant out for your arrest.
This Tuesday, Lake County Sheriff’s detectives were conducting an investigation at a home in Lucrene, a small community on the northeast shore of Clear Lake. They had completed their tasks at the home on 16th Avenue, when they spotted a man walking on the street towards them and the house they had just visited. There’s a good chance that he was planning on visiting the same place, but when he saw the detectives and they saw him, he immediately ran away.
Detectives spotted Murray on 16th Ave., and he took off down this alley.
As it turned out the detectives recognized the man as 32-year-old Joshua Franklin Murray of nearby Nice, who is a parolee with an outstanding warrant for burglary and grand theft. Whether he had run or not, they were going to detain him. However, his flight made it that much more difficult. They chased him as he darted down the alley towards 15th, and began to jump fences and run through several yards. Ultimately, he was no match for the officers, who caught up with him one more block down on 14th.
After jumping through some backyards, detectives caught up with Murray on 14th Ave.
Huffing and puffing, Murray explained the obvious, that he ran because he knew they were after him for the warrant. He also had a search and seizure clause in his parole terms, so they wasted no time in clearing him of his goods, which included a black nylon case stowed in his coat pocket and filled with the tools of the trade. He had a digital gram scale, a glass meth pipe, and two plastic bags with crystal methamphetamine. Murray also had a cigarette pack tucked into his sock, with a folded paper inside containing more meth. They checked his cell phone as well, and found several texts indicating ongoing drug sales transactions, no doubt taking note of his contacts.
Murray was taken to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional facility, where he was booked for possession of meth for sale and of drug paraphernalia, along with the warrant and parole violations.
Murray’s black organizer held a scale, pipe and some meth.
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Lake County News: Deputies arrest man on drug charges after foot chase
