Clearlake >> Officers from the Clearlake Police Department arrested two people allegedly involved in the commercial cultivation of marijuana on Thursday. Neither suspect was able to provide proper identification.
At about 9 a.m., officers were alerted to what appeared to be a commercial marijuana growing operation in the 6000 block of Vallejo Avenue, Lt. Tim Celli said. The area was at a secluded location with heavy wooded area surrounding the property.
Officers arrived on scene and could see a large plastic covered area commonly referred to as a hoop house, which used to grow vegetation; however, this hoop house was allegedly hosting marijuana.
It was inside an area partially enclosed by an incomplete large wooden fence that encompassed at least two lot parcels. Officers could reportedly see inside the structure and spotted the marijuana grow. They could see more 100 marijuana plants, Celli said.
In addition, there were makeshift alarm devices at various locations around the area to alert of intruders. Other areas surrounding the marijuana grow were set up as what appeared to be lookout points. This and other information led the officers to determine that the grow site was for commercial profit, Celli said.
At the time, there were no suspects located on or around the immediate area.
An officer assigned to the CPD Investigation Unit authored a search warrant. Meanwhile, an officer who was maintaining security at the location saw a truck pull up and leave rapidly, backing out in an unsafe manner, Celi said. It was believed that the suspects left in haste after seeing the police officer present.
Due to the secluded location and the person’s behavior, the officer suspected that the vehicle was involved with the property. He made a traffic stop on the vehicle for a code violation and contacted the occupants.
They provided names of Gambio Garcia and Samuel Beltran. Neither suspect has been positively identified as of Thursday afternoon, Celli said. The suspects were unable to provide proper identification and the driver was unlicensed. Both suspects were arrested. There was evidence inside the vehicle that linked the suspects to the marijuana growing operation and the property. Both face charges related to the cultivation of marijuana and were later booked in the Lake County jail.
As a result of the warranted search of the marijuana grow, police seized 116 marijuana plants, Celli said.
The CPD has no interest in legal medicinal marijuana grows that are in compliance with the city ordinance, Celli added. They do, however, highly recommend any resident desiring to grow medicinal marijuana follow the permit process or risk code violations and civil penalties.
Information on the process can be located at the city of Clearlake website at www.clearlake.ca.us or at city hall. Additionally, marijuana ordinance information has been disbursed to local businesses that deal with medicinal marijuana, such as the dispensaries and business involved in hydroponics.
