(Bishop Police Press release from Public Information Officer, Katie Coffman)
Date of Event: February 20, 2012 at 0106 hours.
Type of Event: 11357(a) HS-Possession of Concentrated Cannabis
Location: N. Sierra Highway near Highlands Mobile Home Park
Suspect: MURTAUGH, BRICE TAYLOR. 22 year old Laguna Niguel Resident.
On February 20, 2012 at 0106 hours, the suspect MURTAUGH was stopped for a minor traffic infraction
by a Bishop Police Officer. During the contact, a search of the vehicle was conducted; as well as the
deployment of a Police canine. Officers recovered a black velvet case with pipes, stems, picks, vial’s, and
two small plastic containers with Concentrated Cannabis inside.
It was determined the total amount of Concentrated Cannabis recovered from the vehicle during the
search was 1gram.
MURTAUGH, Brice Taylor was arrested for 11357(a) HS-Possession of Concentrated Cannabis and
transported to the Inyo County Jail.
Wayne- you ought to try it. You might have a much more pleasant demeanor. P.S. it is legal to many already. Your wrong. Also, I haven’t had any in several years.
Perhaps some definitions are in order as none of you seem to have bothered with the real laws in California… So here they are… Marijuana defined — “Marijuana means all parts of the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part… Read more »
It will most likely cost the county more than it is really worth, jury trail anyone….
Who isn’t on drugs?
=
For all you whiners who say this is a waste of tax payer dollars. At least the Police are out there working instead of sitting in the station doing nothing. If this guy was stoned out and crashed into your family you all would be songing a different tune. The… Read more »
Joe – We can’t be angry at the police for enforcing the laws. That’s like being mad at the mailman because he delivered the mail or a taxi driver because they are waiting on the curb for a fare. The police officer in this case was doing their job. A… Read more »
Joe -when you call us whiners after stating” if this guy was stoned” and” if this guy crashed into your family” you sound more like a whinny weener than I.
Trouble…I think what Joe is trying to say is everytime someone,a local or out-of-towner gets stopped,searched and arrested for transporting illegal drugs through the Owens Valley..and beyond..there are people ,like you,that whine about the ammount of drugs they have in possession,if their vehicle was illegally searched,how drugs should be legalized,since… Read more »
Wayne- Joe’s response is just like most of yours. Filled with “what if’s” and pure fiction.
Dean…You say “Marijuana helped form me into the person I am today??”…And your asking for informed opinions and an intelligent discussion?…think I’ll have to take a pass on that offer.
Wayne… That was a logical fallacy in the form of an ad hominem attack. I graduated with two degrees in four years from a top ten research institution and earn good money in corporate America. If I am the product of marijuana smoking and you are not, what does that… Read more »
Dean….IF what you say about yourself is true,why on Earth would such a highly intelligent and successful person (such as yourself) make such a foolish statement…Many people I know have had drug-related brushes with the law in their pasts…but none of them are now saying marijuana made them what they… Read more »
Wayne, My original statement was rather straight forward: “Marijuana helped form me into the person I am today. The sum of my experiences informs who I am.” In short – I am who I am today because of ALL of my life experiences, including those that some consider “less savory”.… Read more »
Dean…Now I understand…past experiences that helped all of us to grow up and not continue to make the same mistakes…including myself…been there,done that…maybe a better way to describe it ..
Priceless reply, Dean. Welcome to Wayne’s World…
Pathetic…
Yeah,I’m sure also the very FIRST time he has ever possessed anytype of drugs,and if he ever has before,surely only small ammounts…. right? Nice kid?….He’s 22 years old!!..How many of you with daughters would like this guy traveling with her,along with the dope,and the drug paraphanalia he had stashed inside… Read more »
You’re making lots of assumptions about this man’s character, based solely on you personal prejudices and stereotypes. From Wikipedia: A bigot is a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one exhibiting intolerance, and animosity toward those of differing beliefs. Mr Deja, I’d… Read more »
Wilfred S…..MY assumptions based on MY prejudices and sterotypes?…In this story alone,you have questioned and “assumed”things about the Sierra Wave and it’s reporting,you insult Law Enforcement for wasting California tax payers money by making an arrest with this guy…and state the Country is also wasting our money with the war… Read more »
As I see it Wilfred you don’t either, just depends on how you feel about any particular subject.
Wayne: I was this nice kid. My wife’s family welcomed me into their family with open arms. My wife married me, even knowing that I smoked marijuana. I got arrested with the stuff (CVC 23222{b}) in 2007, two years before we got engaged – after her dad gave me permission… Read more »
Wayne- I’m sure my grandmother would fully support your argument on this matter.
Another waste of our Police resources….2 police show up at ~$70,000/year….with benefits ~$120,000/year. The gas to transport to Independence at $4.50 a gallon….all for a gram! Dumb!
What prompted them to search the vehicle?
That gram of Concentrated Cannabis is a felony without prop215 protection.
That gram is a wobbler – the DA can charge as a felony or a misdemeanor. I’m going to bet that this kid will get told to plea to a misdemeanor with probation and a ~$500 fine or they will charge him with the felony and take it to trial… Read more »
Does Sierra Wave really believe this qualifies as news worthy?
Yes. We want the public to know what’s happening in their towns and with tax dollars.
BK
Ahh, good point Ms. Kessler. Facilitating transparency may trump propagandism.
Right On Bennett 🙂
Benett- I can respect that point of view. But at what point do you draw the line? Isn’t this charge in the same category as running a stop sign?
Spend 37 years in news reporting, and then decide how you feel about it.
Benett Kessler
I wouldn’t last 37 seconds. 🙂
If you run a stop sign,unless you got outstanding warrants,I don’t think you’ll end up in cuffs and booked into jail…like what happened to this “child”.
Benett I truely do not understand your point of view. It does seem you take every press release from these agencies and run with it. Why? Many times in our community, alledged suspects (human being) lives are detrimentally affected by thier photos being pasted on your website. They are supposed… Read more »
I look at news evaluation differently. The First Amendment – free speech and the right of the public to know what it’s agencies are doing comes first. FYI, I did interview the man you referred to and published his side of the arrest along with comments from law enforcement. You… Read more »
I don’t think anything is not factual in your report. It is just with statements of “DWP bullying” that throws me for a loop. For years I have heard what I thought was your negative oppinion coming through when you talk about DWP. Please save that for the editorials. LA… Read more »
cat, The news reports what happens involving public agencies, crime, politics, group activities, art, theater. In the case of the LADWP, they are a public agency – one of the largest in the nation. Their activities should be reported. Over nearly four decades we have witnessed how they treat individuals… Read more »
Cat I agree with what you say, but all this medical crap is crazy. Most people smoke it because they enjoy it. We need to legalize it and stop these games. It is less harmful than alcohol.
Trouble….quit your whining…..Want to smoke pot,fine,smoke pot…..Just don’t get behind the wheel when you’r high and don’t be a fool in public. when your on dope.It’s never going to be legal,so you got 2 choices.# 1..stub your toe and get a med card….or # 2..buy it and take your chances….Your… Read more »
The compulsion of any news organization to post any and all press releases from law enforcement, is certainly questionable.
I too have been frustrated by the tendency of the local news agencies to publish statements from the police and prosecutors- often word for word. As somebody who has suffered for speaking out, it is upsetting that reporters won’t question things more. After awhile, one gets tired of speaking out,… Read more »
“It was determined the total amount of Concentrated Cannabis recovered from the vehicle during the search was 1 gram.” This sentence pretty much sums up the problem America has with the “War on Drugs” and the continual bleeding of tax dollars to law enforcement. This individual had an incredibly small… Read more »
Big drug bust, lol. Looks like a nice kid from a nice town.
Way to go Bishop PD.
Give yourselves a big Fat pay increase with Benefits
.
Interesting to note that the Town posted for a $65K remodel for the police – looks like real belt tightening is happening under Wilbrecht’s administration……What els is not being disclosed about how tax dollars are being spent???
Have They made any “under the table” changes to their Big Fat Pensions Plan Funds also? just follow the money down the rabbit hole, just how deep does their rabbit hole go? That is the 52 dollar question
“It was determined the total amount of Concentrated Cannabis recovered from the vehicle during the search was 1gram.”…. Goood Grieeef… this makes tha headlines in INYO County?? How much of our Tax-Dollars spent to take This Dangerous “1 (ONE) Gram,,, Yes ONE Whole GRAM of Herb from the evil “Plant”… Read more »
well yeah Spoon .. big news in the little city of Beeshup Cal .. but you play, you pay … The law is the law, don’t take your stash around town.
Amen! One gram of marijuana doesn’t even make an eighth bag (1/8 is 3.5 grams) so chances are this is some fragment left behind….what a waste of time on our law enforcement’s part and he’ll only get a fine of ~$200. Yet the staff time of the PD, the K-9… Read more »
Not to mention tha staff time for “Put-Em-Away-Maillet” to tap-and-twirl hes pen in justice court, and the public defender, and the judge,, what’s the hourly rate/man hours for prosecuting this (1) ONE Gram of Herb? geez there has to be more productive things to do in Bish… Bish can’t b… Read more »
Article should state”another “patient” arrested in Bishop”….Is it just me,or does it seem the locals,as well as the out-of-towners are having a harder time transporting their goods through the Owens Valley than they used to?…That Police K-9 is gonna be needing a vacation soon…either that or an increase in pay.Good… Read more »
A vacay to the Mediterranean .. 3 weeks …
One can’t be a patient without a Dr. recommendation. Had he had a Dr. recommendation he would have not been arrested and taken to jail. and I still want to know what prompted the search? Perhaps when he has his day in court it will be determined the vehicle was… Read more »
Next time just make sure your car smell like POT and see what happens.
And next time,be sure to be acting all nervous and stupid…and if the officer asks to search the vehicle,tell him no…..and see what happens.
And don’t be dumb enough to drive a vehicle with minor Vehicle Code Violations on it or drive in a way that is going to draw attention to yourself.
Actually, you’re wrong, the reason for his arrest is the lack of a “patient” status.