Mammoth resident tries to sell weed to cops

On Tuesday, Oct. 26, two Mono County Sheriff Deputies assigned to the Mono Narcotics Enforcement Team (MONET), one deputy in plain street clothes and the other deputy wearing his uniform with a sweater covering his uniform and a portion of his duty gun belt, and a specialist from the California Drug Enforcement Section, were traveling in an unmarked MONET vehicle on Frontage Road in Mammoth Lakes. They observed James Carlson, a Mammoth Lakes resident, walking past A-Frame liquor store with a large backpack. The deputies pulled up next to Carlson and asked, “Hey bro, do you know where the dispensary is?” Carlson replied to the deputies, “You looking for some Medies? I got some right here, bro” while walking over to the car.

Carlson stated that he had some killer weed from Humboldt and a scale in his backpack. One deputy stated that he had $70. Carlson then asked if he could weigh it out in the undercover MONET car. The deputy had to move some equipment marked “SHERIFF” into the trunk while Carlson waited. Carlson got in and exchanged the marijuana for the money. During the transaction, the uniformed deputy’s duty belt was partially visible but Carlson didn’t notice. The deputies let Carlson exit the vehicle and then gave him the bad news that they were cops. Carlson stated that he thought they were cops but needed the money.

Carlson was then arrested and taken to Bridgeport where he is currently in custody in the Mono County Jail for selling marijuana to Sheriff’s Deputies. –Mono County Sheriff’s Dept.