Clearlake >> Police arrested a man they believe was involved in an illegal pot grow calling the operation “clearly for a commercial purpose” after officers discovered more than 1,000 plants at a residence Wednesday morning.
According to the Clearlake Police Department (CPD) reports, a home on the 14000 block of Konocti Street had been converted into a large-scale marijuana grow housing plants in nearly every room as well as outdoor hoop houses in the backyard. This was allegedly protected by several firearms.
They first responded to the location at 2:30 a.m. when a report came in of loud music, CPD Lt. Tim Celli reported.
When officers arrived, they contacted Ramon Valencia, 49, who was standing behind his vehicle in the driveway just a few feet of the roadway. Valencia reportedly showed numerous objective signs of alcohol intoxication to the point the officers determined Valencia was unable to care for his safety or the safety of others. He was subsequently arrested for public intoxication.
Additionally, a 9-mm semi-automatic pistol was in plain view on the front passenger seat of his unsecured vehicle, Celli stated in a press release. The vehicle windows were down and the vehicle was unlocked. Officers also allege they saw the gate to the backyard and the side door to the residence were open.
Valencia reportedly denied living at the residence or being involved with the residence in anyway.
Based on the fact Valencia was in possession of a firearm and the doors to the residence were open, along with his statements that he did not live there, officers attempted to contact someone else at the residence but were unable to do so, Celli said.
The officers said they were concerned that someone may be injured inside or another crime may be occurring, according to Celli. Based on this belief and an exigency exemption, which allows law enforcement to enter a structure without warrants when people may be in immanent danger, officers conducted a protective sweep of the open residence to make sure there were no victims of a crime inside.
They didn’t find anyone else in or on the property; however, they discovered the entire residence was converted into an indoor marijuana growing operation. Every room beside the bathroom and the kitchen was being used to grow marijuana, Celli said. In addition, officers discovered two large hoop houses in the back yard that were both completely full of marijuana.
The patrol officers collected the unsecured 9-mm handgun that was in Valencia’s vehicle for safe keeping and transported Valencia to the police station. The patrol officers left the residence and alerted the investigation unit of what they had discovered. A CPD detective later authored a search warrant which was signed by a superior court judge authorizing the search of the residence and property to further investigate the large-scale marijuana growing operation.
As a result of the service of the search warrant 1,018 high-grade marijuana plants in various stages of growth were seized. There were no living quarters inside the residence, however a makeshift room made out of plywood was located outside the residence, near the back yard and the two hoop houses, Celli said. Inside that makeshift room, officers found forms of identification and other evidence linked to Valencia. They also allegedly found two more semi-automatic pistols with a high-capacity magazine, a glass methamphetamine pipe and other evidence connecting Valencia to the property and the car in the driveway.
He faces felony charges for cultivation, armed while in the commission of a felony and possession of a high-capacity firearm magazine. Anyone who has information regarding this investigation is encouraged to call CPD detective Elvis Cook at (707) 994-8251 ext. 315.
This marijuana grow is being investigated as criminal grow site, Celli said. The CPD has no interest in legal medicinal marijuana grows that are in compliance with the city ordinance, he added. They do, however, highly recommend any resident desiring to grow medicinal marijuana follow the permit process or risk code violations and civil penalties through code enforcement.
Information on the marijuana grow permit 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. This ordinance will be enforced by the code enforcement department.
