Photo: Kevin Scott Ussery and Samuel James Albrecht
Santa Barbara County – The daily routine of cops is clearly one filled with the unpredictable. Proof of that came early in the evening of February 17th when, according to Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department Public Information Officer Kelly Hoover, a Santa Maria Sheriff’s Station patrol deputy noticed a passing driver committing a traffic violation.
Flashing red lights atop the black-and-white patrol vehicle failed to bring the suspect vehicle to an immediate halt, whereupon the deputy conducted a “forced traffic stop,” and immediately made contact with the driver, 29-year-old Santa Maria resident Kevin Scott Ussery.
As Ussery had made the traffic stop less than routine by his initial failure to yield, the deputy had probable cause to conduct a search of the vehicle, which he promptly did. That search revealed the presence of “a loaded pistol with its serial number removed, approximately ½ ounce of methamphetamine, sales paraphernalia, and other drug paraphernalia.”
At that point, both Ussery and his passenger, 25-year-old Santa Maria resident Samuel James Albrecht, were taken into custody and given a free ride to Santa Barbara County Jail. Ussery was booked on charges of evading a police officer, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of drug paraphernalia, with his bail set at $70,000.
For his part, Albrecht was booked on charges of possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, carrying a concealed firearm, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, transportation of methamphetamine, and possession of a controlled substance.
Once he was in custody and booked, a “cavity search” of Albrecht was conducted, leading to the discovery of “additional drug paraphernalia” on his person. His bail was set at $50,000.
Photos: Courtesy Santa Barbara County Jail Booking
