Lake Elsinore Smog Shop Raided, 1 Arrest

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A raid by sheriff's deputies at a Lake Elsinore smog shop Wednesday turned up drugs, a gun and a large amount of cash that led to the arrest of one man, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Around 4 p.m., sheriff's deputies out of the Lake Elsinore station served a search warrant at the shop located in the 16500 block of Lakeshore Drive. During the investigation, "approximately 3 ounces of heroin, one handgun, a large sum of U.S. currency and other indicia of sales of narcotics" were found, according to Sgt. Jeff Reese.

Raymond Fernandez, 46, of Lake Elsinore was arrested as part of the investigation. He was picked up around 4:15 p.m. at Lincoln and Machado streets, jail records showed. It's not clear what led investigators to Fernandez, who was booked into Southwest Detention Center on suspicion of several misdemeanor charges and a felony charge of drug sales. He was released Thursday in lieu of $7,500 bail and is due to appear in court in April.