oneofus
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By Staff Reports
Posted: 07/25/15, 5:13 PM PDT | Updated: 1 day ago
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Cohasset >> A raid Friday resulted in two arrests, eradication of more than 2,000 marijuana plants, and confiscation of a arsenal of weapons, according to press release from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
For several weeks the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Unit has been investigating a large commercial marijuana grow above Bear Lake on Big Chico Creek, which is about 10 miles upstream from the upper end of Bidwell Park in Chico.
The grow was found to be related to a residence in the 16900 block of Musty Buck Road being used for shelter and marijuana processing.
Friday a search warrant was served at that house by the Special Enforcement Unit, assisted by the sheriff’s SWAT team, Butte Interagency Narcotic Task Force, California Fish and Wildlife, and U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
At that point at least three people ran out of the home and into the forest.
One, carrying a AK-47 assault rifle with a high-capacity magazine, was apprehended by a Fish and Wildlife officer and his K-9. The suspect was treated at the scene for dog bites and transported to Enloe Medical Center in Chico prior to being booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville. He was identified as Silvano Gonzalez-Mendoza, 42, of Mexico.
A search of the house found 172 pounds of marijuana shake and a large number of weapons, including an AR-15 assault rifle with a 100-round drum magazine.
In three grow sites above Bear Lake 2,137 marijuana plants were found. They appeared to be a second planting, as evidence of a previous harvest were found. The plants were being watered from creeks flowing into Big Chico Creek that had been dammed, via several miles of drip tubing. Fertilizer had contaminated the waterways.
The plants were being grown under a canopy of manzanita bushes to avoid detection.
As SWAT members were leaving the site they came upon a man entering in a vehicle. Juan Santiago-Monjaraz, 31, of Mexico, was determined to be involved with the pot grow and was arrested.
Gonzalez-Mendoza faces charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, resisting arrest, being armed in the commission of a felony, armed with an assault weapon, possession of assault weapons and possession of a machine gun. His bail was set at $203,000.
Santiago-Monjaraz is accused of cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale. His bail was set at $100,000.
A raid Friday resulted in two arrests, eradication of more than 2,000 marijuana plants, and confiscation of a arsenal of weapons, according to press release from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.For several weeks the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Unit has been investigating a large commercial marijuana grow above Bear Lake on Big Chico Creek, which is about 10 miles upstream from the upper end of Bidwell Park in Chico. The grow was found to be related to a residence in the 16900 block of Musty Buck Road being used for shelter and marijuana processing.
One, carrying a AK-47 assault rifle with a high-capacity magazine, was apprehended by a Fish and Wildlife officer and his K-9. The suspect was treated at the scene for dog bites and transported to Enloe Medical Center in Chico prior to being booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville. He was identified as Silvano Gonzalez-Mendoza, 42, of Mexico.A search of the house found 172 pounds of marijuana shake and a large number of weapons, including an AR-15 assault rifle with a 100-round drum magazine.
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