February 15, 2024 - Amador County Sheriff's Office officials report that on February 10th, 2024, at approximately 2:06 a.m., a deputy was patrolling Ridge Road in Sutter Creek, when he observed a Dodge pickup driving without properly displayed license plates. The deputy attempted a traffic enforcement stop on the Dodge near Running Gold Road; however, the driver did not stop and continued driving along the shoulder of the roadway. After approximately ½ mile, the driver finally stopped, at which point the occupants threw a loaded handgun magazine out of the passenger side window. With assistance from additional deputies and an officer from Sutter Creek Police Department, the driver and passenger were safely detained.
The passenger was found to be on Post Release Community Supervisor (PRCS), having been released from San Joaquin County Jail just 5 days prior and both the driver and passenger were convicted felons. Deputies subsequently searched the Dodge and located a loaded handgun in the engine compartment, which was determined to have been stolen out of San Joaquin County two days earlier. Deputies also located drug paraphernalia and burglary tools in the Dodge. Through review of the patrol vehicle’s in-car video (ICV), it was later discovered that while the driver was refusing to initially stop, the occupants threw an additional stolen and loaded handgun out of the passenger side window.
The driver, 42-year-old Lemar Nasir, and the passenger, 30-year-old James Newman, both of Manteca, were arrested and booked into the Amador County Jail for numerous firearm and drug related charges.
Source & photos: Amador County Sheriff's Office
