On January 21, 2020, Detectives from the Fairfield Police Departments Special Operations Team (SOT) observed Timothy Purvis, a 56-year-old Fairfield resident, driving a vehicle in the area of N. Texas Street and E. Pacific Avenue. SOT Detectives elected to contact Purvis as they were familiar with Purvis due to a recent arrest for drug sales. Detectives knew Purvis was on active Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) for a separate prior drug sales case. Individuals who are on PRCS have waived their 4th amendment right to search and seizure and can be searched by officers during routine compliance checks.
Due to Purvis’ prior drug history, Detectives contacted Officer Gutierrez the on duty police canine unit. Officer Gutierrez arrived on scene with his canine partner Leon, who is trained to locate illegal street narcotics. Canine Leon searched the vehicle and indicated illegal narcotics were inside. Officers then checked the vehicle and located heroin, methamphetamine, a scale commonly used to weigh drugs and a loaded revolver. Purvis was arrested and booked into county jail for a violation of his PRCS along with additional drug sales and firearm charges.
This incident highlights the importance of routine compliance checks with probationers and parolees. Some individuals who are on probation or parole continue to commit crimes while out of custody that are damaging to the community. Thankfully, the officers have the ability to conduct these compliance checks and remove an armed drug dealer from the neighborhood.
