UPPER LAKE, Calif. – The service of a search warrant this week led to the arrest of an Upper Lake man and the seizure of marijuana, hash oil, firearms and cash.
Trenton David McCluskey, 35, of Upper Lake was arrested as a result of the search warrant service, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said narcotic’s detectives secured a search warrant for a residence located in the 14000 block of Elk Mountain Road in Upper Lake on Wednesday, and served it on Thursday at approximately 7:20 a.m.
When detectives entered the residence they detained 36-year-old Tanya Louise Lane without incident. A short time later, McCluskey arrived at the residence and he was also detained without incident, Brooks said.
During the search detectives located an indoor grow in the garage which contained 49 marijuana plants. Brooks said the plants were reported to be in an early vegetative state.
Detectives located 47 marijuana plants inside a hoop-style greenhouse, which was set up just outside the garage. The plants in the greenhouse were reported to be flowering, Brooks said.
Brooks said narcotics detectives located an additional 16 marijuana plants, which were growing outside and scattered throughout the yard. A total of 112 marijuana plants were eradicated from the property.
During a search of the residence detectives located 9.43 ounces of hash oil, which was seized as evidence. Brooks said they also located a butane hash lab and 120 canisters of butane gas.
The butane is used to strip the tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, from the plant. This method of THC extraction is extremely dangerous, due to the use of flammable gas, Brooks said.
Detectives also located and seized two semiautomatic handguns and two 12-gauge shotguns from the residence, according to Brooks.
Brooks said detectives located a room inside the residence, which was specifically used for the purpose of processing and packaging marijuana. Inside the room they located a large amount of packaging materials, 9.3 pounds of processed marijuana, three individually packaged 1 pound bags of processed marijuana and 18 pounds of bulk marijuana shake.
The shake is the plant material that is left over after trimming the buds. Brooks said the shake also is what’s predominately used to manufacture hash oil.
Also located inside the processing room was $16,512 cash, which was determined to have been earned through the illegal sales and distribution of marijuana. Brooks said the marijuana was seized as evidence and the cash was seized pending asset forfeiture proceedings.
McCluskey was arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance, cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and for being armed while in the commission of a felony. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.
Bail for McCluskey was set at $100,000. Jail records indicated he had posted the required percentage of bail and been released by Friday.
Brooks said detectives decided not to arrest Lane at the residence and are submitting the report to the District Attorney’s Office for complaint.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force will can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.