PRESS RELEASE- 8/22/23- TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO RECOVERY OF FIREARM AND NARCOTICS LAB
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DATE: AUGUST 22, 2023
Paradise Police Department 5595 Black Olive Dr. Paradise, CA 95969 530.872.6241 www.townofparadise.com/police “Paradise Police is committed to improving the quality of life in our community.” FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Traffic stop leads to recovery of Firearm and Narcotics lab. Date: August 2, 2023 On 08/02/2023 at about 12:23 AM, Paradise Police Officer T. Tatom was working patrol in the town of Paradise, near Clark and Elliott Road. Officer Tatom observed a blue Chrysler 300 speeding. The vehicle also had an inoperative brake light. Officer Tatom conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle related to the observed traffic violations. Officer Tatom contacted the driver of the vehicle, identified as 33-year-old Sacramento resident, Danil Johnson. While speaking with Johnson, Officer Tatom obtained consent to search the vehicle. Throughout the search of the vehicle, Officer Tatom located approximately 2 ounces of methamphetamine in the vehicle. The methamphetamine was packaged in multiple amounts consistent with sales. Officer Tatom further located packaging materials, scales, and other items consistent with the sales and distribution of illegal narcotics and controlled substances. Upon further search of the vehicle, Officer Tatom located a loaded, semi-automatic pistol, with a threaded barrel concealed in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, multiple rounds of ammunition and highcapacity magazines. Officers also located multiple items consistent with narcotics manufacturing and what was later determined to be an illegal narcotics lab. It was determined Johnson suffered prior criminal charges which made him a prohibited person regarding firearms possession. Johnson admitted to officers that he was in the area with the sole purpose of narcotics trafficking. Johnson was placed under arrest and later booked into the Butte County Jail for numerous felony counts. Johnson's bail was set at $265,000. The vehicle was later stored with a local towing service.
LOCATION: Clark / Elliott Road
SUSPECT(S): Danil Johnson (10/29/89)
INVESTIGATING OFFICER: Officer T. Tatom
APPROVING SUPERVISOR: Sgt. J. Wilke
