Mendocino Co. Sheriff’s Press Release:

On 9-20-2012, at about 2130 hrs, Mendocino County Sheriffs Deputies observed a pick-up driving on Hwy 162, near Covelo, at a high rate of speed with marijuana plants in the bed of the truck.

As deputies followed the vehicle, they paced the truck traveling at a speed of approximately 65 miles per hour in a posted 55 miles per hour zone. When Deputies attempted to conduct a traffic enforcement stop, the vehicle accelerated to a paced speed of over 80 miles per hour. Deputies pursed the vehicle for approximately one mile at which time the vehicle pulled into a driveway located on Agency Road, Covelo.

Deputies contacted the occupants of the vehicle at which time they were identified as Linda Britton, Colleen Downey and Kerra Stillwell.

Following a brief investigation it was determined that the three suspects had taken the marijuana, which was in the bed of the truck they were driving, from the Round Valley Tribal Natural Resources Department yard. According to the suspects, they had learned that the Round Valley Tribal Police had eradicated a marijuana garden on tribal land earlier in the day, and that the marijuana had been at the yard for eventual destruction. The suspect further stated that they had intended to sell the marijuana and split the monetary proceeds between the three of them. Deputies located (8) eight mature Marijuana plants in the bed of the truck, with a potential yield of approximately 6 pounds of processed marijuana (in total).

Stillwell and Downey was issued a citation for transportation and possession of marijuana and released upon their signed promise to appear. S-Britton was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, transportation of marijuana and Evading a Peace Officer / Reckless driving. Britton was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where she was held on $25,000.00 bail.