by Jeremy Couso
The report of a man brandishing a shotgun led to a busy night for Lassen County Sheriff’s Deputies Friday when they responded to the 300 block of Elm Street in Westwood, served a search warrant and took three people into custody on firearm and threat related charges.
According to details released Wednesday by Sheriff Dean Growdon the string of incidents started when a man and a woman went to property on Elm Street to retrieve some items and make sure the property was secure.
“They found that a padlock securing a door had been cut, and believed that someone may be on the property,” explained Growdon. “They secured the property and called Sheriff’s Office dispatch.”
In the meantime, a subject identified in the Sheriff’s report as 19-year old Westwood resident Darin Best, arrived at the residence in a vehicle and exited with a shotgun, allegedly brandishing it at the victims.
Darin Best then unlocked a trailer on the property and two people, one identified as 31-year old Jay Schier, and the other, only identified by the Sheriff as ‘a female subject’, exited the trailer.
Schier was holding a baseball bat and threatened the victims with it.
At this point, according to the report, Best, Schier and the female subject left the property in two vehicles.
Deputies located the vehicle occupied by Schier and Darin Best at a home in the 500 block of Elm Street. Deputies contacted and detained Best and 49-year old Westwood resident Daisy Midnight at the residence.
“Sheriff’s Deputies sought and obtained a search warrant to search the property for Jay Schier, in addition to firearms, and ammunition,” said Growdon.
“Upon serving the search warrant, Deputies located Jay Schier, a female subject, five firearms, and ammunition.”
Deputies also observed evidence of drug sales and obtained a second search warrant to search for drugs and items associated with the illegal possession and sales of drugs.
“During the search deputies found 11.18 ounces of a substance believed to be methamphetamine around $1,700 in cash, and other evidence of drug sales.”
Best was arrested for charges which include assault with a firearm, felony conspiracy, felony criminal threats and brandishing a firearm.
Midnight was booked on charges inluding Assault with a firearm, felony conspiracy, brandishing a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Schier was charged with felony conspiracy, criminal threats and brandishing a weapon other than a firearm.
All are innocent until proven guilty.
According to Sheriff Growdon additional information related to possession of drugs and drug sales will been sent to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
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