Kesleyville >> Six men were arrested in a multiple drug bust which included almost $300,000 worth of methamphetamine on Tuesday.
Narcotics detectives served a search warrant at what was formerly known as Red Lava Wine Tasting on the 8000 block of South State Highway 29 in Kelseyville at about 4:30 p.m.
Allegedly, five men immediately fled the scene where approximately 6 pounds of methamphetamine, 9 pounds of processed marijuana, a loaded SKS pistol grip rifle, an unassembled M-4 rifle and thousands of dollars were stashed, Lt. Steve Brooks, Lake County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) public information officer, stated.
All five of the men were caught, and one, authorities claim, was armed with a loaded .38-caliber revolver that he attempted to discard during the chase. A sixth man arrived during the investigation, Brooks said. Narcotics detectives allege he was involved with the crime scene and he was also arrested.
During the search, detectives reportedly found an indoor grow with more than 100 marijuana plants as well as a second outdoor site with another 38 plants. They also found $22,000 cash inside the pockets of two suspects and another $60,000 in a parked vehicle, Brooks stated. Detectives estimated that the 6 pounds of methamphetamine had a street value of over $272,000 in Lake County when sold in personal use quantities.
In July, narcotics detectives found and seized more than 3,300 outdoor marijuana plants that were concealed within native vegetation on a large land parcel in the same area as Tuesday’s incident.
Richard Joseph Gamble, 41, of Staten Island, New York; 46 year old Prudencio Gerardo Najar-Elias, 46, of Santa Rosa; Diego Garcia, 26, of Ukiah; Arnoldo Mendoza-Tellez, 25, of Clearlake; Jamie Sanchez Ruiz, 28, of Los Angeles; and Javier Guiterrez Torres, 39, of Kelseyville were arrested and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Anyone with narcotics information can assist the LCSO task force by calling the anonymous tip line at 263-3663.
