CLEARLAKE >> Clearlake Police arrested a local man after a short pursuit through a patch of woods after linking him to alleged illegal marijuana grow sites with 30 plants.
Authorities also seized more than 3,000 plants at a nearby home, but are still in search of the persons responsible.
The successful sweep began when officers operating with search warrants took David Moses, 55 of Clearlake, into custody on Thursday morning near the 3700 block of Pine Ave.
While investigating two connected grow locations, officers discovered approximately 30 marijuana plants in large hoop houses set in the back yard of one of the properties. According to CPD Lt. Tim Celli, a number of other plants had been recently removed.
Although a medical recommendation for the address existed, officers also located a written agreement indicating the property had been rented for the purpose of growing marijuana for sale, and that profits would be split between the parties involved.
“This was a clear indication that the grow site was for commercial purpose,” Celli explained in a media statement.
No one was at the property, but investigators found a gate opener for the residence across the street, owned by Moses. They alos noted that a dog belonging to Moses was inside the grow site’s fenced yard.
Officers walked across the street to contact Moses, but he had apparently attempted to elude the investigation. An officer spotted him allegedly hiding in an adjacent wooded lot. Moses then ran, leading officers on a short foot pursuit before he was apprehended.
Police returned to Moses’ residence with a search warrant and found approximately 24 pounds of processed marijuana. They also located a loaded shotgun, pepper spray and a flashlight Taser, all believed to belong to the suspect.
Moses, a convicted felon, is prohibited to posses weapons.
Six marijuana plants growing inside the home were not seized. Officers believed the plants to be medicinal.
“The Clearlake Police Department has no interest in legal medicinal marijuana grows that are in compliance with the City ordinance,” Celli explained in the statement. “We do, however, highly recommend any citizen desiring to grow medicinal marijuana follow the permit process or risk code violations and civil penalties through code enforcement.”
Meanwhile police served a warrant at a house two doors down from the initial location. They discovered 3,329 plants in various stages of growth, along with a handgun. most of the residence had been converted into a grow house.
“It appeared that the marijuana plants were started inside the residence and then the marijuana plants were moved outside,” Celli reported.
The investigation into this property is ongoing. The person or persons responsible for this location have not been confirmed at press time.
Moses was booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of marijuana for sale, resisting arrest, felon in possession of firearm, possession of weapons prohibit by a felon and cultivation.
There is currently an ordinance in effect that requires individuals to apply for a permit to grow medicinal marijuana in the City of Clearlake. Information on the permit process can be located at the City of Clearlake website at www.clearlake.ca.us or at City Hall.
