LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The service of seven search warrants this week in a multiagency drug eradication operation resulted in 17 arrests and nearly 1,600 marijuana plants.
Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the warrants were served on four properties in the Jerusalem Valley area near Middletown and three in Upper Lake on Tuesday and Wednesday.
He said the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force served the warrants with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security, United States Customs, Bureau of Land Management, United States Forest Service, HIDTA, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Fish and Game, Lakeport Police Department, Clearlake Police Department, Marin County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County District Attorney's Office, Lake County Code Enforcement and Lake County Public Works.
On Tuesday, Brooks said the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force conducted the Jerusalem Valley operation and eradicated 467 marijuana plants.
He said detectives also located a honey oil/hash lab. This method of converting marijuana into hash is extremely dangerous, due to the high risk of explosion. Detectives also located two firearms and a small amount of methamphetamine.
As detectives entered three of the locations, several suspects attempted to flee, said Brooks. A total of seven subjects who had fled were captured and arrested.
Detectives approached a tent located at one of the grow sites, which was occupied. Brooks said the subjects inside refused to comply with instructions to exit the tent, so a United States Forest Service apprehension K9 was deployed. The occupants of the tent were taken into custody without further incident.
Brooks said the following suspects were arrested during the Jerusalem Valley operation: Alex Joel Crespi, 31, of Miami, Fla.; Robert Nelson Garcia, 34, of Venezuela; Raul Adrian Esteva, 37, of Lower Lake, Calif.; Stephanie Lynn Mildred Liscio, 23, of Palm City, Fla; Maxwell Reed Whalen, 21, of Palm City; Molly Grace Dolan, 21, of Middletown, Calif.; Quentin Vernon Rollins, 27, of Middletown; Nicholas James Nobach, 28, of Clearlake, Calif.; Teague Wesley Shaver, 32, of Stateline, Nev.; and Jorge Delgado Melgoza, 37, of Thermal, Calif.
All of the suspects were arrested for marijuana-related charges and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.
On Wednesday, Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force conducted the Upper Lake operation and eradicated 1,110 marijuana plants and located a hash conversion lab, Brooks said.
During the search, detectives located one firearm and an underground marijuana growing facility. Brooks said they also seized a bulldozer, tractor, utility vehicle, dump bed trailer, commercial grade electric generator and $2,500, which are all pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
Brooks said the following suspects were arrested during the Upper Lake operation: Jose Maria Fernandez, 55, of Upper Lake, Calif.; Derick Berrelleza Jimenez, 27, of Oakland, Calif.; Rolando Molina Lona, 43, of Napa, Calif.; Anthony David Morrell, 28, of Upper Lake; Manuel Mixteya Meros, 32, of Clearlake; Jesus Hernandez-Guzman, 21, of Clearlake; Javier Becerra, 41, of Clearlake.
He said all of the suspects were arrested for marijuana-related charges and transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office thanked all of the agencies that participated in the dismantling of these large illegal marijuana growing operations.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.