Three really bad guys are off the streets of southern California today because of PROACTive drug enforcement! The arrest of Taylor Winston WRIGHT and two others capped a lengthy criminal investigation into the illegal manufacture and distribution of phencyclidine (PCP).

This case had its start in June of last year when the PROACT task force seized a clandestine laboratory in Ladera Ranch, CA that resulted in the seizure of chemicals and equipment consistent "with a large scale phencyclidine manufacturing operation, including approximately 9 gallons of liquid PCP, a stolen vehicle and a loaded firearm."

The suspect in the Ladera Ranch PCP lab, Taylor Winston WRIGHT, fled the scene and was a fugitive for nearly one year prior to being arrested last April, as detailed in this Tin Star post.

WRIGHT made bail and was surveilled by the PROACT task force after one of his court appearances in Orange County, CA on the PCP lab case. WRIGHT led the task force to a location in Hawthorne, CA where he met up with the two other suspects who were observed loading containers - later found to contain PCP- into a carport storage cabinet.

Based upon the evidence obtained from the Hawthorne location, agents from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the PROACT task force executed arrest and search warrants that resulted in the arrest of WRIGHT, the two others and the seizure of additional PCP, chemicals to make more of the drug, firearms and a large sum of cash.

WRIGHT faces a lengthy prison term if convicted on the federal charges associated with this case and his involvement in the illegal drug trade.

This case illustrates the complexities of a narcotics investigation and the cooperation needed between local, state and federal criminal justice agencies in bringing these bad guys to justice.

It also tells us that PCP is a dangerous illegal drug that poses a real threat to our communities.

For example, PCP is commonly packaged to look like everyday household items that serves to hide it from law enforcement and confuse those that don't suspect anything wrong, like children. The chemical smell from the PCP is powerful and overwhelming and can easily harm an unsuspecting officer or citizen.

Most of the houses with clandestine laboratories are heavily fortified and a tremendous amount of force/tools/teamwork has to be used to gain safe entry into them. In addition, the suspect(s) was armed with a loaded firearm about 70% of the time.

The PROACT task force includes personnel from the Orange County Sheriff's Department, Santa Ana Police Department, Brea Police Department, Buena Park Police Department, La Habra Police Department, California Department of Justice (DOJ), Orange County Probation Department.  PROACT was assisted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Los Angeles Police Department, Long Beach Police Department, U.S Postal Inspectors, California Department of Corrections Parole and LA IMPACT.

Good job!

[Related links: LA Times and OC Register stories]

Briefing is over. Stay safe out there!