CLEARLAKE >> A series of searches over the past week by Clearlake police netted almost 700 marijuana plants from alleged commercial grows.
The most recent of these operations came on Thursday, when officers executed a search warrant on a house in the 4300 block of Wilder Ave. They discovered 48 large plants and 21 pounds of processed marijuana, reportedly packaged for sale.
Police arrested a 19 year old woman, Yessica Contreras, at the scene. She was later released pending felony charges for medical reasons. Authorities determined Contreras is approximately six months pregnant.
The initial success came on Aug. 24, when Clearlake police collected 567 plants and a handgun from two properties — one in the 3400 block of 6th St. and the other in the 16000 block of 31st Ave.
One person, 36 year old Liliana Guadarrama, was arrested.
Another warrant search on Aug. 31 led police to Miguel Mendoza-Balderrama, 38, who was living in a tent on a plot in the 3400 block of 5th St. The entire property was covered in growing marijuana plants.
“The property had a water hose and electrical power line coming from a connected residence where an elderly female was living,” said Clearlake Police Detective Ryan Peterson.
The name of the woman is not being released. An investigation determined the woman had no connection to the illegal cultivation of marijuana.
Police took Balderrama into custody.
The homes targeted were found to have code violations and were tagged by authorities. In several of the operations evidence pointed to the involvement of others and detectives are continuing their investigation.
The house on Wilder Ave. was found to be associated with alleged commercials at other sites.
“The owner of the properties is being reviewed for possible criminal charges,” Peterson said.
