Photo: Rutledge’s gun
August 9, 2022 – Ventura County, Ca.
Proving once again that folks with a long felony history need to drive with the utmost of care when possessing illegal drugs, stolen property, and firearms in order to avoid unwanted contact with law enforcement, 49-year-old Lancaster, Ca. resident Darryle Lamonte Rutledge now sits in the Ventura County Jail with his bail amount set at a cool half-million dollars.
Rutledge’s predicament, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Det. Sgt. Will Hollowell, allegedly arose out of his poor driving skills as he cruised through the streets of Fillmore on the morning of August 8 th when “a deputy conducted a traffic enforcement stop for a vehicle code violation.”
When the uniformed patrol deputy made contact with Rutledge, he spotted “a substance that appeared to be illegal drugs in plain view in the vehicle.” One can only surmise that Rutledge was then asked to alight from the vehicle, whereupon the deputy confirmed his suspicions and determined that the suspect items were in fact Ecstasy pills.
At that point the deputy conducted a perfunctory search of the vehicle and discovered that Rutledge was in possession of “a stolen loaded firearm concealed inside of a backpack.” That firearm was soon identified as having been stolen in a residential burglary two years prior. The conversation with the deputy then took an awkward turn as Rutledge—“a convicted felon with a lengthy criminal history”—was taken into custody.
Rutledge was transported to Ventura County Jail, where he was booked on charges of possession of illegal drugs, carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm with prior conviction, carrying a loaded firearm in public, prohibited person in possession of ammunition, and unlawful transfer of a firearm. He remains in custody with his bail set at $500,000.
Photo: Courtesy VCSD Fillmore Detective Bureau
