– Press release from the Mono County Sheriff’s Office
On the evening of Tuesday, July 16, 2013, at approximately 9:10pm, Mono County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a traffic stop northbound on Hwy 395 in Bridgeport.
Amy Villastringham, age 29, of South Lake Tahoe, CA, and Dustin White, age 32, of Minden, NV, were stopped by deputies on northbound Hwy 395 in Bridgeport for an equipment violation.
As the vehicle was run for current license and registration information, Mono County Sheriff’s Dispatch advised deputies that Ms. Villastringham was driving on a suspended license.
Mr. White returned with several possible felony warrants, one of which was for narcotics transportation. Both Ms. Villastringham and Mr. White were asked to exit the vehicle and if there was anything illegal in the vehicle. Ms. Villastringham stated she had marijuana in the car but that she possessed a medical marijuana card for it. Mr. White stated he had several drugs in a black back pack in the car.
During a search of the vehicle the following narcotics were seized: 346 ecstasy pills; 8 grams of cocaine; 508 grams of marijuana; 221 grams of hash wax; and other narcotics paraphernalia.
Ms. Villastringham and Mr. White were arrested for violations including possession of narcotics and narcotics paraphernalia, transportation of narcotics, and possible narcotics for sale. They were transported to the Mono County Jail without incident and are currently in custody. All charges are pending with the Mono County District Attorney’s Office.
As a result of the traffic stop, seized vehicle, and seized narcotics, on the morning of Friday, July 19, 2013, a search warrant was issued in South Lake Tahoe, CA.
Mono County Sheriff’s Deputies, with the assistance of South Lake Tahoe Police Department, South Lake Tahoe Regional Narcotics Enforcement Team, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the California Highway Patrol (CHP), served a search warrant at the residence of Ms. Villastringham at 1047 Williams St., South Lake Tahoe, CA. Additional narcotics and narcotic paraphernalia were found in the residence. Further charges against Ms. Villastringham are pending with the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office.
Written and prepared by: Jennifer Hansen, Public Information Officer
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I think so too Trouble.
Isn’t great that the Sheriff dept. is helping Highway Patrol with equipment violations?
Isn’t it AMAZING how many wanted crooks (felony warrants) are taken down in the Eastern Sierra thanks to the California Vehicle Code…AND the great observation skills of the local deputies. Way to go, Joe.
In the 70’s we called that a road trip.
seems to be alotta drugs on 395
This is getting hilarious and on a regular basis.
MONET needs to do nothing more then get out there and pull people over for speeding and equipment violations and they’ll be taking more drugs off the streets then ever before.
I suppose I could say Good Job Mono County LEO’s.. but it seems most people are doing all the work and going out of their way to deliver themselves to Mono County LEO’s.
Good Job officers 😉
WOW!!!!!!!!!!….good bust,Mono County Sheriffs…….ANOTHER young woman with an apparent “medical condition” to warrant a medical marijuana card…problem for them,the State of California doesn’t issue medical Cocaine or Medical ecstasy cards too…not yet anyway.. . Is LE up in that area gangbusters or what !!!…I’m planning a trip to Bridgeport next month,a fishing trip….and although I have a driver’s license,don’t have any equipment violations on the truck, don’t plan to haul anytype of illegal drugs with me,and always drive the speed limit,I’m gonna be VERY careful in what I’m doing on the highway when I’m up there….AND when I’m walking and shopping in town…Thing is,the people I know in Bridgeport and Lee Vining are VERY appreciative of how Law Enforcement takes care of business up there…and a reason why those two little towns are GREAT places to visit and recreate.GOOD JOB Mono County Law Enforcement…The area is a better and safer place because of you..and know the residents there feel the same way !!
I’ve heard a lot of complaints over the years about the various law enforcement agencies in the eastern Sierra making traffic stops for equipment violations. I am not a complainer, if I were stopped for same I would appreciate knowing of something that occurred between my oil changes, where I check most of the systems on the car. It only makes sense from a safety standpoint. You will likely receive a verbal warning or a fix it ticket. Fix the problem and no ticket.
Mechanical violation stops frequently result in finding more than the purposes the stop was made. This story is an example of this. I’m quite happy that these two people now have to face the justice system. If they decide that they have too many run ins with the law, they may get help to end their dependence on drugs. Highly unlikely for sure. But if some of the drugs they are peddling don’t reach the people hooked on them, maybe someone else’s life will be spared. Maybe that is unlikely too, but certainly it is possible.
You’re absolutely right,John. Equipment violations are just probable cause for the stop. More doper’s are caught for not wearing their seatbelt and having tinted windows than anything else (a good thing) Remember the rapper they caught on New Years eve ?
Any veteran CHiP’y can find an equipment violation on 90% of cars on the road, even if it’s something as simple as the GPS unit you have stuck to the inside of your windshield, or dogtags hanging from your rear-view mirror. The vehicle code is their BIBLE, and they KNOW it, chapter and verse.
AND…the California Vehicle code (the actual book) is just as thick
Big Rick …. “yay .. thought I drive through the valley of the shadow of death .. I will fear no evil for Thou oh CHP art with me”. hehe