K9-Assisted Narcotics Investigation Leads to Arrests, Firearm Seizure in Grass Valley
GRASS VALLEY, CA — “Nevada County Sheriff’s Office (NCSO) with assistance from Grass Valley Police Department (GVPD) arrested two individuals for multiple serious drug offenses on June 3, 2025, at approximately 4:30 p.m. following an investigative stop in the parking lot of a business on Hughes Road. The suspects were identified as 34-year-old Kalen Turner of Nevada City and 24-year-old Katriena Mulligan of Grass Valley.
Nevada County Sheriff Deputy Ramos, with her K9 partner “Riggs”, was on patrol traveling down E. Main Street in Grass Valley when she observed a suspicious vehicle backed into a carwash, but not utilizing the facility. Recognizing the vehicle from prior criminal investigations of drug and property crimes in Nevada county, Deputy Ramos conducted visual surveillance of the vehicle at the business and contacted GVPD, since the activity was occurring within the city limits. GVPD officers and investigators arrived in the area and assisted Deputy Ramos with observation of the vehicle, a 2013 gray Ford Focus.
Within approximately 20 minutes, the NCSO deputy and GVPD officers observed Mulligan arrive driving a 2007 white Scion and contact Turner, the driver of the Ford Focus. They both then drove to a convenience store on Hughes Road, where they parked together behind the business and out of view of the roadway. Detectives were able to position themselves to continue to watch Turner and Mulligan, who then proceeded to complete a “hand-to-hand” transaction witnessed by the officers.
At that time, NCSO Deputy Ramos and GVPD officers conducted an enforcement stop on the suspects’ vehicles in the parking lot, where narcotics and drug paraphernalia were observed in plain view. Both vehicles were searched, yielding the discovery and seizure of fentanyl and paraphernalia from each, in addition to indicia commonly used in illicit drug sales, including a scale and packaging materials, in Turner’s car.
K9 Riggs is trained and POST certified in narcotics detection, and was deployed to search the vehicles, where he alerted to narcotics in each. Additionally, Riggs alerted to the engine compartment of Turner’s vehicle, where officers located 90 rounds of ammunition and a handgun, under the hood.
Mulligan and Turner were both booked into the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility on multiple drug charges. Turner is also being charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as 11395(b)(1) H&S, possession of a controlled substance with two or more prior convictions, which is the new violation under Proposition 36 passed by California voters in 2024.
We want to extend our gratitude to the Grass Valley Police Department for their partnership in this investigation.”
