Claims deputies failed to investigate crime, left needles, drugs for family to clean up

By Patric Hedlund, TME

He is so hot with anger that the pelting rain seems to sizzle and turn to steam as it hits his face. On Friday, March 11, Brent Nussbaum stood on the porch to the cabin his family has owned in Frazier Park for 30 years. A few days earlier, he has learned, the home was taken over by thieves.

“They changed the locks. They pulled down our family photos from the walls and burned them in the wood stove. They moved in, with drugs and needles, clothes and garbage all over the place….They were doing their laundry in our house…and cooking meth,” Nussbaum alleged.

Two of the three burglars have been arrested on felony burglary charges. A woman with a toddler ran out the back door downstairs when…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

‘Do you think my 76-year-old mother would be safe here alone when they get out of jail in two days and come back here for their drugs and stuff? The sheriffs have left my family in danger.’—Brent Nussbaum standing in driving rain

Nussbaum’s face turns red with disbelief at the deputies’ lack of interest. ‘If this happened in L.A. they would have seized all this stuff and pursued the one who got away. I think they just didn’t want to do a report,’ he said.

Above: Brent Nussbaum shows suitcases of drug paraphernalia, drugs, a dialysis machine marked ‘SV’ that he fears is stolen from someone, what appears to be a semiautomatic pistol and clip, plus an array of cell phones with messages (left) monitoring deputies’ locations, he said.

Items found in the house and left behind by the deputies, including drugs, paraphernalia and electronics.

The man on the motorcycle was identified as Richard Howell. Below: the truck that was released to one of the thieves’ father without being searched for stolen goods, drugs or other evidence.

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This is part of the March 18, 2016 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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