October 27, 2023 - Kern County Sheriff's Office officials report that over the course of the past several months, rural areas of Kern County have been impacted by red dye diesel thefts and copper wire thefts.  On October 25, 2023, Detectives from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Rural Crimes Investigation Unit, along with Detectives from the Kern County Sheriff’s Office High Intensity Drug Traffic Areas Unit, served a search warrant in the 1800 block of Bank Street in Bakersfield.

Detectives located two stolen trailers, one stolen vehicle, copper wire, several hundred gallons of red dye diesel, a loaded firearm, Methamphetamine, and tools and equipment used to commit fuel thefts and copper wire thefts.

Additionally, California Highway Patrol Officers assigned to the Kern County Auto Theft Task Force identified another trailer and vehicle associated with the property as being stolen.

Samuel Lane (Age 35) was placed under arrest for P.C. 496A(a) – Illegal possession of copper wire, P.C. 496D(a) – Possession of a stolen vehicle, P.C. 29800(a)(1) – Possession of a firearm by felon, P.C. 30305(a)(1) – Possession of ammunition by prohibited person, H.S. 11370.1 – Possession of a controlled substance while armed with a load firearm, H.S. 11378 – Possession of a controlled substance for sales, H.S. 11377(a) – Possession of a controlled substance, and P.C. 484E(b) – Possession of access card.

Anyone with information regarding these investigations are encouraged to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Office at (661) 861-3110 or Secret Witness at (661) 322-4040

Source & photos: Kern County Sheriff's Office