Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On March 29, 2022, at about 2:37 a.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the Blue Lake area conducted a routine traffic stop for a vehicle code violation.

The deputy contacted four occupants inside the vehicle and observed drug paraphernalia in plain view. Additionally, one passenger of the vehicle, who later was identified as 26-year-old Maxwell Thomas Elliott after providing deputies with a false name, was found to have a warrant for his arrest. Elliot and a passenger of the vehicle were both found to be on probation with a search clause.

Due to the presence of drug paraphernalia and the probation terms, a search of the vehicle was initiated. During a search of the vehicle, deputies located approximately 79 grams of methamphetamine and various drug paraphernalia belonging to Elliot. While conducting their investigation, deputies were informed that a passenger of the vehicle, 20-year-old Lynzee Aurora Strange, had contacted the Sheriff’s Emergency Communications Center in an attempt to divert deputies from the traffic stop. Strange was detained and searched incident to arrest. During a search of Strange, deputies located over 5 grams of suspected Fentanyl and drug paraphernalia.

Strange was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a narcotic controlled substance (HS 11350(a)), possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)), obstruction of justice (PC 148(a)(1)) and misuse of 911 (PC 653x(a)).

Elliot was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of transportation/sale of a controlled substance (HS 11379(a)), possession of a controlled substance for sales (HS 11378), false identification to a peace officer (PC 148.9(a)) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)(2)), in addition to a warrant for Post Release Community Supervision revocation (PC 3455(A)).

The driver of the vehicle, 40-year-old Keara Leighanne Loudon, was cited and released on charges of driving an unregistered vehicle (VC 4000(a)) and failure to maintain lighting equipment (VC 24252(a)).

The fourth passenger of the vehicle was released at the scene.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.