Clearlake >> A man allegedly pulled a stolen gun on officers on Wednesday. Moments later, after being detained, he claimed he did not mean to grab the weapon and apologized to police. Authorities seized hundreds of pot plants and multiple firearms from the man’s home.
Two men were fighting at a residence in the 4800 block of Palmer Avenue when officers received the report at 12:50 p.m. According to the caller one had a firearm and they were arguing about marijuana, according to a report by the Clearlake Police Lt. Tim Celli.
When officers Travis Parson and Leo Flores arrived, they spoke with Clearlake resident Jose Luis Hernandez Rosales, 30, who reportedly admitted to having one shotgun.
Upon receiving permission, officers entered the home. When they continued to question Rosales regarding a marijuana grow, he allegedly admitted that he had some growing inside the residence in another room, Celli reported. Rosales said he had a medical recommendation that allowed him to do so.
The officers continued to question Rosales and asked to see his recommendation. He reportedly responded that he kept his recommendation in a nearby drawer.
Rosales was completely cooperative and according to the officers never gave any indication to them that he was a threat. Before the officer could stop Rosales from opening the nearby drawer, he opened it and reached inside seemingly to obtain his marijuana recommendation.
Officers instead spotted a handgun in the drawer and then immediately saw Rosales pick up another handgun in the drawer, Celli said. One officer immediately drew his firearm and ordered Rosales to drop the gun. Rosales complied with the order.
After being detained in handcuffs, Rosales apparently told the officers that he was sorry and he thought the recommendation was in the drawer and then saw the gun, he didn’t realize what he had done.
An investigation discovered the firearm Rosales picked up was stolen and the other firearm in the drawer had the serial number ground off.
Rosales was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property and possession of a firearm with a removed serial number.
The service of a search warrant at the home resulted in the seizure of four firearms including the two handguns previously mentioned and two shotguns. More than 300 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, approximately 20 pounds of processed marijuana, evidence to support Rosales was involved in the sales of marijuana, items associated with the manufacture of concentrated cannabis and $5,258 were also seized.
Celli reported that Rosales made admissions that he was unemployed and made his living from selling marijuana. In addition he admitted to manufacturing concentrated cannabis using a butane honey oil apparatus, but claimed he was not good at the process.
“That statement was very concerning due to the dangers associated with Butane Honey Oil extraction,” Celli said.
It is a process used to manufacture concentrated cannabis while using butane and heat to extract oil from marijuana.
Rosales also allegedly admitted that he had previously been deported from the United States and he was not a supposed to be in the country.
“We are very thankful this situation resulted in no one being hurt,” Celli added. “The officer’s response to Rosales picking up a gun in their presence was outstanding. They used commendable restraint and safely defused a very potentially dangerous situation. In addition, we were happy to be able to stop Rosales’ further attempts to use the butane honey oil process which put neighbors at risk.”
Rosales was later booked into the Lake County jail for various felonies.
