MARIN CITY

Suspect arrested in meth, fentanyl probe

County detectives arrested a suspected methamphetamine and fentanyl dealer during a bust in Marin City.

The arrest happened Jan. 24 after the Specialized Investigative Unit, part of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, arranged to buy a half-pound of meth and an ounce of fentanyl from the man in an undercover operation. The suspect said he would deliver the meth first and the fentanyl later that day.

Investigators arrested Nathan Picco at the meetup and seized more than half a pound of suspected meth, a small amount of heroin and a collapsible baton, the sheriff’s office said.

Picco, a San Francisco resident, was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of drug and weapons offenses. His bail was set at $30,000. The sheriff’s office said Picco is on probation for a conviction in a 2022 burglary case in Marin.

Picco, 44, was released on bail pending a review by prosecutors. He could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.

NOVATO

Traffic stop sets off pursuit and arrest

Novato police seized 3.5 pounds of cannabis and an imitation firearm after a pursuit involving a suspect riding on the hood of a vehicle.

The incident happened at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday when officers stopped a vehicle without a properly displayed license plate. The driver got out of the vehicle and the passenger took the wheel, police said. The suspects fled with the original driver riding on the hood.

Police ended the pursuit because of the safety risk, but they found the vehicle later on Poppy Place in Ignacio with the cannabis and gun inside. Officers found one of the suspects nearby on Ignacio Lane.

Allyssa Leeann Hann, 26, of Clearlake was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of evading police, obstructing police and violating probation conditions. She is being held without bail because of the alleged probation offense.

Police are still looking for the suspect on the hood, whom they identified as Earl Vogt, 43, of Lucerne. He also has a warrant for his arrest out of Lake County.

MILL VALLEY

Commission backs 5-residence project

The Planning Commission has approved a proposal to build five two-story townhomes at 20 Sunnyside Ave.

The property is occupied by an office building and a parking lot. The plan calls for dividing the parcel and constructing the homes on the part where the parking lot is. The two-bedroom residences would be 750 to 1,000 square feet and be built on top of a parking garage. A previous proposal for 12 residences was scaled back during the review process.

The commission held a hearing on Tuesday night. Several residents raised concerns about issues such as parking constraints.

“As a community, the challenge we have is accepting more housing and accepting more density of housing, and to not have that development to be all based on the automobile,” said Greg Hildebrand, a member of the commission. “This is in a perfect place to walk everywhere. You can get to everything in this location. It’s right downtown.”

The commission voted 4-0 to approve the plan. Commissioner Jon Yolles was absent.

SAN RAFAEL

Board supports plan to build hillside home

The Planning Commission has endorsed a proposal to construct a home in the Black Canyon neighborhood near Dominican University of California.

The property is a vacant parcel at 287 Mountain View Ave. The application requests a 2,437-square-foot house with a two-car garage on 12,220 square-foot vacant lot. The project requires a “major environmental and design review permit” and hillside development standard exceptions that include reduced setbacks and an off-street parking variance, according to the city planning office.

The commission held a hearing on Tuesday and voted 7-0 to recommend that the City Council approve the project.