LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The service of a search warrant by the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force, along with several compliance checks in the same area resulted in seven arrests and the seizure of marijuana and several firearms last week.
Lt. Steve Brooks said that on Wednesday, Aug. 21, narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for a parcel of property located in the 17000 block of Road 16 N 19 in Upper Lake.
The private parcel is located in an area commonly known as Big Rock, which contains private parcels within the Mendocino National Forest, he said.
On Thursday, Aug. 22, narcotics detectives served the search warrant. Brooks said they also were assisted by Homeland Security Investigators, Forest Service Law Enforcement Officers and Lake County Code Enforcement.
When detectives entered the property they located and detained 29-year-old Wesley Kyle Ewbank of Upper Lake, Brooks said.
During the search detectives located two marijuana grows which contained approximately 200 plants, according to Brooks.
He said Ewbank was arrested for possession of marijuana for sales and the cultivation of marijuana. The unpermitted structure Ewbank was living in was red tagged for destruction.
Brooks said narcotics detectives also conducted several compliance checks in the same area. The marijuana grows were discovered earlier in the year while conducting overflight missions.
During the compliance checks detectives arrested Michaela Desirae Weishaar, 23, of Boring, Ore., for possession of marijuana for sales and marijuana cultivation; John Edward Lynn, 38, of Glendale, Ariz., for marijuana cultivation; Erik Michael Keegan, 37, of Woodland Hills for possession of marijuana for sales and marijuana cultivation; Victoria Ann Parisi, 28, of Upper Lake for possession of marijuana for sales and marijuana cultivation; Mark Anthony Leach, 38, of Shelter Cove for marijuana cultivation; and Heather Elaine Slankauskas, 25, of Upper Lake for marijuana cultivation, Brooks said.
Narcotics detectives located and eradicated a total of approximately 1,500 large marijuana plants during the compliance checks, Brooks said. They also seized several firearms from the grow sites, including an AK-47 rifle.
Lake County Code Enforcement red tagged numerous unpermitted structures that were being used as residences, Brooks said.
Brooks said all of the subjects taken into custody were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.