NORTH COAST, Calif. – Earlier this month a Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputy became seriously ill during the search warrant service at a suspected illegal marijuana grow, and officials believe he may have been exposed to a dangerous chemical.
On the morning of Friday, July 13, deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Marijuana Eradication Team, or COMMET, were assisting wardens from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with the service of a search warrant at a residence in the 13500 block of Kenny Creek Road in Branscomb, according to a report from Sgt. Andrew Porter.
Porter said the purpose of the search warrant was to address a marijuana growing operation that involved suspected environmental crimes including the illegal diversion of water for the purpose of cultivating. The growing operation was also thought to be illegal and unpermitted.
During the service of the search warrant, a 36-year-old male deputy sheriff was possibly exposed to a chemical that was being used as an insecticide on the marijuana plants, Porter said.
The chemical has been identified as Metamidofos which is listed as a banned or severely restricted pesticide by the US Environmental Protection Agency, according to Porter.
Porter said the pesticide is transdermal and can be absorbed through contact with the skin, or inhaled through the respiratory system. Based upon the packaging and labeling of the bottle the pesticide appears to have been brought into the United States illegally from Mexico.
After the service of the search warrant the deputy started to experience stomach problems and progressively worsened. Porter said the deputy was treated at a local hospital in the days following his exposure and he is still under the care of a physician due his continuing symptoms that are common for exposure to this substance.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office cautioned the public and other first responders, who might come into contact with dangerous pesticides associated with marijuana cultivation, to use extreme caution as these types of chemicals are now frequently found in marijuana growing operations. If you think you have been exposed to this substance or a similar substance, please seek medical attention as soon as possible.
Mendocino County Sheriff's deputy possibly sickened by chemical in marijuana grow
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