CLEARLAKE >> Officers from the Clearlake Police Department seized 6,800 marijuana plants during a search of a property on Monday.
Along with the plants, officers detained Ricardo Perez, 37 of Clearlake, on multiple charges.
Investigating several associated properties suspected of being part of a grow operation, officers contacted Perez at the main residence in the 16300 block of 28th Avenue, serving a warrant.
The initial search resulted in the discovery of approximately 2,300 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, along with a loaded handgun. Some of the marijuana plants were located in the back yard of the location. In addition, there were other rooms located in the residence that had indoor growing rooms set up.
Only some of these rooms were in operation.
Rooms added onto the garage were set up for indoor marijuana growing with tunneled passageways leading to the another set of grow rooms. There was also apparatus set up for processing and drying marijuana.
During inspection of the property, officers noted a number of illegal electrical connections set up at the residence. The house was found to have unsafe mold conditions, as well.
Due to the unsafe conditions located at this residence, the property was red tagged by Code Enforcement.
As a result of the search of the properties located across the street, 0fficers seized a further 4,500 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. One fenced lot, located directly across the street from the initial residence, held over 2,000 marijuana plants already planted in the ground.
A second residence located across the street, was set up as a processing location. There were drying marijuana plants and some processed marijuana discovered at that location.
Perez was the only person at the location however it is believed there are other individuals involved in the operation.
The arrest continues a string of successful searches of large grow operations by the CPD.
On April 7 officers seized 3,000 plants while investigating two suspected grow locations. Almost a week later, on April 13, officers responding to a noise complaint in the early morning hours discovered 1,000 plants at a home converted to a grow house.
Police found another 359 plants and 21 pounds of processed marijuana while serving two warrants on April 19.
In each case, they also discovered weapons and made arrests.
Perez was booked at the County Jail for cultivation, possession of marijuana for sale, armed during the commission of a felony, and a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, due to a prior felony conviction for possession of marijuana sales.
This marijuana growing operation is still under investigation as to anyone else involved. Anyone with information regarding this large scale commercial marijuana operation is encouraged to contact Detective Cook.
“The Clearlake Police Department will continue to investigate commercial marijuana operations located in the city,” said CPD Lt. Tim Celli in a press statement. “Individuals who are involved with commercial marijuana grows should be forewarned that this type of activity will not be tolerated in the City of Clearlake.”
Celli reiterated that authorities are not interested in investigating legal medicinal marijuana grows that are in compliance with city ordinances.
