A California man's alleged drug haul was foiled after he accidentally left behind a backpack containing a massive stash of suspected methamphetamine in a rideshare vehicle. The San Francisco Police Department recovered roughly three-quarters of a pound of suspected meth after the rideshare driver contacted officers Sunday afternoon. The incident unfolded near the Tenderloin neighborhood, one of San Francisco's most notorious areas plagued by open-air drug activity, homelessness, and violent crime.
The drugs have an estimated street value of more than $30,000. A suspect's rideshare trip took an unexpected turn after he left behind a bag containing more than 300 grams of methamphetamine. Police identified the suspect as 41-year-old Sacramento resident Jessie Ottman-Combs.
Authorities said they quickly located Ottman-Combs after working with the rideshare driver to arrange for the backpack to be returned to its owner. This ultimately led officers to a motel where he was staying. During a search of the motel room, officers reportedly recovered two cellphones, two tablets, and drug paraphernalia.
Police seized all the items, along with the suspected methamphetamine found in the rideshare vehicle, as evidence. Authorities recovered 355.7 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Ottman-Combs was booked into the San Francisco County Jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and transportation or sale of methamphetamine.
The investigation remains active. Ottman-Combs' alleged crime spree was brought to an end through swift action by the police and the rideshare driver. The exact circumstances surrounding the alleged crime are still under investigation.
