December 7, 2017 – On December 5th, 2017, deputies were called to the 12000 block of Slate Creek Road for what was believed to be an interrupted residential burglary. A witness had taken photographs of a U-Haul van in the driveway and spoke to two men who were removing property from the residence. The vehicle fled prior to deputies’ arrival.
Deputies were able to identify the local business at which the U-Haul van had been rented and found the rental had been paid for with a prepaid check card and rented under a false name.
While deputies were conducting surveillance of the business the van returned. Contacted and arrested at the business was Daniel Elijah Davis (39 YOA) from Grass Valley. Mr. Davis was found to live in the immediate area of the burglarized residence.
While at Davis’s residence, deputies observed a vehicle drive by the residence; this vehicle had been seen in the area of the U-Haul store while Davis was being arrested. The vehicle was followed to an address in the 14000 block of Towle Lane near the Cedar Ridge Y.
Deputies ultimately secured a search warrant for both Davis’s address and the secondary address on Towle Lane. During the execution of the search warrant on Towle Lane deputies located Michael Paul Grisham Smith (44 YOA) hiding in the attic. Mr. Smith was prohibited by the court to possess firearms. Deputies recovered all items reported stolen in this burglary report as well as 23 guns – some loaded, some unloaded.