LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Marijuana Suppression Unit's discovery of an apparent explosive device – later determined to be inoperable – during eradication operations resulted in a coordinated response by multiple allied agencies on Tuesday.
Sheriff's Capt. James Bauman said that on Tuesday, June 22, at approximately 8:45 a.m., sheriff’s deputies, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) agents, and a C.A.M.P. team with the California Department of Justice (DOJ) were inserted by helicopter into an illegal marijuana growing operation in the area of Dry Creek Road and Highway 175 near the Sonoma County Line.
Shortly after their insertion, deputies were approaching an unoccupied camp they had located in the middle of the grow when they discovered an apparent explosive device at the entry point into the camp, Bauman said.
The device consisted of 15 to 20, 12 gauge shotgun rounds taped together with a small circuit board and positive/negative leads attached to a small ATV sized battery. Bauman said the device also had a trip-wire leading across the entrance to the camp.
Upon discovering the device, the eradication team backed off and secured the immediate area of the camp, Bauman said. After reporting their discovery to personnel at the operation’s nearby landing zone, they notified sheriff’s command staff and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services coordinator to begin requesting responses from allied agencies to assist with abating the device.
Members of the Napa County Sheriff’s Bomb Response Team were deployed to Lake County shortly before 11 a.m. and while they were en route, the Lake County Department of Public Works responded to the area with sandbags and other materials to support the bomb team, according to Bauman.
Shortly after the Napa County bomb team arrived at around 1 p.m., a Cal Fire engine and medic unit, as well as a REACH air ambulance, were staged as a precautionary measure, Bauman said.
Two bomb technicians were inserted into the marijuana grow by helicopter and after disabling the device, the bomb team determined the device was not functional to begin with, Bauman said.
He said officials believe the device was left by illegal growers to stall potential eradication efforts and allow suspects to flee the operation without being pursued by law enforcement.
After the illegal grow was secured and rendered safe, the marijuana suppression operation resumed and deputies ultimately eradicated more than 21,000 marijuana plants. Bauman said the operation concluded at approximately 5 p.m. and no suspects were located.
Sheriff Frank Rivero thanked Cal Fire, Lake County Department of Public Works and REACH for supporting the operation and expressed his deepest gratitude to the Napa County Sheriff’s Bomb Response Team for rendering the eradication operation safe.
Sheriff's officials reminded members of the public to always be aware of their surroundings when venturing into wilderness areas and to immediately back out and notify authorities any time indications of a possible marijuana grow are discovered.
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