LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A two-day enforcement sweep conducted by the Lake County Gang Task Force this week has resulted in a total of 17 arrests and the seizure of suspected methamphetamine.

On March 8 and 9, the Lake County Gang Task Force conducted more than 50 probation or parole searches in unincorporated county communities and the cities of Clearlake and Lakeport, according to a report from Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

The operation targeted validated gang members, known drug dealers and convicted sex registrants. Bauman said 14 of the total arrests included felony charges and the other three were classified as misdemeanors.

Arrests made during the two-day operation also resulted in nine parole violations, the execution of eight outstanding arrest warrants and two Immigration and Naturalization holds, Bauman said.

Arrests made during the two day operation included:

• Angel Rodriquez Jr., 33, for violation of parole;

• Steven Michael Pruitt, 25, for a misdemeanor warrant and possession of narcotics paraphernalia;

• Samuel William Rhea, 30, for a misdemeanor warrant;

• Paul Martinez, 40, for violation of parole;

• Javier Gonzalez Alvarez, 27, for possession of concentrated cannabis;

• Alejandro Jose Lopez, 29, for a misdemeanor warrant;

• Ronald Melvin Lebrun, 38, for a felony warrant and a misdemeanor warrant;

• Kelvin Lee Simpson, 44, for violation of parole;

• Cesario Angelo Jacobo, 35, for violation of parole;

• Doffus Lomack Gallon, 42, for violation of parole;

• Jose Matilde Vega, 25, for an immigration hold;

• Ivan Montalvo Vargas, 24, for possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of marijuana for sales, a felony warrant and an immigration hold;

• John Girllmo Marquez, 46, for possession of a controlled substance for sales and a felony warrant;

• Joseph Robert Garcia, 37, for violation of parole;

• Charlene Marie Carver, 24, for violation of parole and felon in possession of tear gas;

• Thomatra Eugene Lyons, 32, for violation of parole;

• Dwayne Lenor Yiggins, 33, for violation of parole.

The Lake County Gang Task Force consists of members from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the Clearlake Police Department, the Lakeport Police Department, the Lake County Probation Department and the Lake County District Attorney’s Office.

This week’s operation was assisted by members of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force, the Sheriff’s Narcotics Detection K-9 teams, California State Parole and the Department of Homeland Security.

Bauman said the Lake County Sheriff’s Office considered the two-day enforcement sweep a complete

success and attributed that success to the coordinated and cooperative effort of all the agencies that were involved.

Sheriff Frank Rivero expressed his deepest appreciation to the dedicated law enforcement professionals that participated in this operation and helped make Lake County a safer place to live.

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