April 5, 2023 - Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office officials reported that on April 2, 2023, around 1:15 A.M., Deputies patrolling the Valley Springs area observed two vehicles parked behind the Starbucks. Upon contact, the deputies observed two people who appeared to be asleep. Of particular note, the passenger, Suspect Ezra Phillip Land 36-year-old from Mokelumne Hill, had an open box of drug paraphernalia in his lap. Both the driver Suspect Amber Rose Strano 22-year-old from Avery, and Suspect Land were awakened by the deputies.

During a vehicle search, deputies located additional drug paraphernalia, suspected Fentanyl, suspected Xanax pills, suspected methamphetamine, (11) smoking pipes, and multiple syringes. Suspect Ezra and Suspect Amber were administered field sobriety tests and found to be under the influence of narcotics.

Suspect Ezra and Suspect Amber were placed under arrest and booked into the county jail. They were charged with 11550(A) HS-under the influence of a controlled substance (misdemeanor), 11350(A)HS-possession of a narcotic controlled substance (misdemeanor), and 11364(A)HS-possession of unlawful paraphernalia (misdemeanor).

The suspected Fentanyl was safely packaged and taken to the Sheriff’s Office for placement into a secure evidence holding area designed to reduce the risk of exposure to Sheriff’s Office employees. In the coming days, specially trained deputies will conduct formal testing to confirm the suspected substance.

Later in the day... at about 8:40 A.M., a deputy was patrolling the San Andreas area when they observed Suspect Christopher Wayne Clements, 31-year-old from Arnold, walking near the 100 block of West Saint Charles Street. The deputy knew about a valid warrant issued for Clements’ arrest. Suspect Christopher Clements was contacted and arrested without incident. During a search, deputies located approximately 7 grams of suspected Fentanyl in his outer shirt pocket and two shotgun shells in his pants pocket. A loaded short-barrel shotgun, high-capacity magazine, blasting caps attached to a small bag, and three social security cards with different names were located in the backpack he was carrying.

Suspect Clements was transported to the county jail for booking. He was charged with 25400 (A)(2) PC carry concealed weapon on person (felony), 25850 (A) PC carry loaded firearm in public under specific circumstances (felony), 29800(A)(1) PC carry concealed weapon by a prohibited person (felony), 33215 PC possess short-barreled shotgun (felony), 11351 H&S possession of a controlled substance for sale (felony), 11352 H&S transport controlled substance (felony), 18720 PC make a destructive device, 530.5 (C)(1) PC illegal possession of other identifying information with the intent to use (misdemeanor), 32310 (A) pc possession of large capacity magazine (misdemeanor) and a local warrant.

The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the dangers of Fentanyl use and exposure. Often disguised as other legitimate drugs, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid significantly more potent than morphine and primarily sold through the illegal market. As little as two milligrams of fentanyl can be lethal to a human. Fentanyl can be produced or inserted into virtually any composition and is commonly created to resemble counterfeit prescription opioids.

Source: Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office