Amador County – Drugs and violence led to four arrests in one day last week by the Ione Police Department.

Ione Police Chief Michael L. Johnson released details of a busy day last Thursday, Sept. 29. A call to report suspicious circumstances led to two drug arrests at about 11:30 p.m. Ione police responded to Welch Lane, where the reporting party advised “of a situation he had experienced with his tenants” who “were in the process of moving out.”

The “reporting party noted an unknown male on the property engaged in suspicious activity,” Johnson said. A verbal confrontation between the parties led to the police being called. “Upon contact with the reported suspicious male, later identified as 48-year-old Richard Thomas of Stockton, the officer observed objective signs of drug intoxication. Thomas was arrested for suspicion of being under the influence of drugs.”

During an interview with a female accompanying Thomas, “the officer developed other drug related information. The officer recovered suspected cocaine during the search of her vehicle.” Johnson said Alexandria Morrison, 20, was arrested for possession of drugs. Both were booked into Amador County Jail.

IPD also recovered methamphetamine during a traffic stop at about 2:45 a.m. last Thursday. IPD stopped a vehicle on Main Street for a minor traffic infraction, and “the contact led to a search of the vehicle, revealing suspected methamphetamine determined to be in the possession and control of the driver,” Johnson said. Tammi Sorum, 48, of Stockton was arrested for felony transportation and possession of controlled substances. Sorum was booked into County Jail.

Ione police also arrested a man after a reported barroom assault, battery and theft around 5:30 p.m. last Thursday.

Johnson said Ione police rushed to the scene of a “physical fight in progress” at the Ione Hotel bar on West Main. “Officers discovered the victim of the altercation still inside the bar.” Employees said the suspect “fled out the back door just moments prior to the officers’ arrival.”

The victim had been reportedly punched and choked during the unprovoked assault but denied medical attention, Johnson said. “Witnesses said the suspect had become enraged, and attacked the other man for no apparent reason. The suspect also reached behind the bar and grabbed bottles of alcohol before fleeing.”

IPD officers “pursued leads and reports provided by local citizens of the man running through various residence backyards and hiding in and about neighborhood locations.”

Within the hour officers located and arrested Sergio Hernandez, 20, of Ione. Hernandez was booked into County Jail on charges of battery, probation violations, and theft.

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