- Lake County News reports
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Detectives serve five search warrants, make one arrest and seize marijuana
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The service of five search warrants has resulted in one arrest, the seizure of marijuana and several residences being red-tagged by Lake County Code Enforcement.
Lt. Steve Brooks said Juvenal Polvos Garcia, 24, was arrested in the case.
It was Garcia who led detectives on a foot chase near Riviera Elementary School, which resulted in the school being locked down briefly on Wednesday morning, as Lake County News has reported.
On Tuesday narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for a residence located in the 5000 block of Bel Air East Drive in Kelseyville, serving the warrant at 11:10 a.m. the following day, Brooks said.
Brooks said detectives knocked on the front door, announced their presence and the fact they had a search warrant no less than three times.
They noticed a Hispanic male adult, later identified as Garcia, walking toward the front door. When Garcia looked through the window and noticed law enforcement, he turned and ran towards the back of the house, Brooks said.
Narcotics detectives forced entry into the residence and pursued Garcia, who ran out the back door. They chased Garcia over a 6-foot fence as he ran toward the Riviera Elementary School. Brooks said Garcia was apprehended behind the school as he attempted to conceal himself in the brush.
During a search of Garcia’s residence, detectives located 51 flowering marijuana plants growing in the garage. The garage was set up with two air conditioners and eight 1,000-watt grow lights hanging from the ceiling. Brooks said the lights were set to turn on and off automatically every 12 hours.
In a bedroom located on the south side of the residence, detectives located 100 small marijuana plants which were determined to be clones. Brooks said these plants were being grown under eight grow lights and the room also had an air conditioner which was dedicated to the room.
During a search of the kitchen area, detectives located approximately two ounces of processed marijuana and a marijuana recommendation belonging to Garcia, Brooks said.
Garcia told detectives that he only smokes one marijuana cigarette per day. Brooks said Garcia explained that this was his second grow cycle he has conducted at the residence. He explained that after the first grow cycle he ended up with approximately 6 pounds of processed marijuana.
Brooks said detectives did not believe Garcia was being truthful, and determined that someone who consumes one marijuana cigarette a day could not possibly consume 6 pounds of marijuana in one year.
Garcia was arrested for cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and resisting arrest. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, Brooks said.
Jail records indicated that Garcia remained in custody on Friday on a no-bail immigration hold.
Detectives conducted a search of Garcia’s wallet and located a piece of paper with an address written on it. The address was for a residence located in the 16000 block of 35th Avenue in Clearlake. Brooks said detectives also located $770 in Garcia’s wallet.
Detectives eradicated 151 marijuana plants from the residence and seized the processed marijuana located in the kitchen. Detectives also seized the $770 pending asset forfeiture proceedings. Brooks said Lake County Code Enforcement red-tagged the residence for illegal electrical wiring.
Narcotics detectives responded to the address located in the 16000 block of 35th Avenue in Clearlake. Brooks said the detectives contacted people parked in front of the house, who said they were there to see Garcia, who lives at the residence. Detectives also located items at the residence containing Garcia’s name.
Brooks said detectives secured a search warrant for the residence and served it at approximately 3:15 p.m. Wednesday.
The detectives entered the residence and were unable to locate anyone inside. During the search, detectives located utility bills for three separate residences located in the 4000 block of Foothill Drive and the 6000 block of Second Avenue, both in Lucerne, and a residence located in the 4000 block of Wilder Avenue in Clearlake. Brooks said detectives had also located a handwritten note in Garcia’s property, which had the same addresses listed.
On Wednesday, narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for the three addresses listed on the utility bills, which corresponded with addresses contained in Garcia’s handwritten note, according to Brooks.
At 6:45 p.m. Wednesday, detectives served the search warrant for the residence located in the 4000 block of Wilder Avenue in Clearlake. Brooks said detectives entered the residence and were unable to locate anyone inside.
During the search detectives located 50 small marijuana clones and 50 mature marijuana plants growing in separate rooms inside the residence. Brooks said the marijuana was growing under several lights which were controlled by automatic timers. All of the marijuana was eradicated from the residence.
On Thursday at approximately 9:20 a.m., narcotics detectives served the search warrant for the residence located in the 6000 block of Second Avenue in Lucerne, where Brooks said detectives were unable to locate anyone. The house appeared that it was only being used to grow marijuana, as it did not contain any furniture.
In one of the bedrooms detectives located 11 marijuana plants which were not flowering growing under lights controlled by timers that were set to be on for 19 hours a day. In another bedroom Brooks said detectives located 30 flowering marijuana plants which were also growing under lights timed to go on and off on 12-hour intervals.
In the garage, detectives locate an additional 30 marijuana plants which were just starting to flower. The timers in the garage were also set to go on and off in 12-hour intervals, Brooks said.
All of the marijuana was eradicated from the residence, Brooks said, with Lake County Code Enforcement also red-tagging the residence for illegal wiring.
On Thursday at 10:10 a.m. detectives served the search warrant for the residence located in the 4000 block of Foothill Drive in Lucerne. Detectives entered the residence and were unable to locate anyone, Brooks said.
During the search detectives located 46 flowering marijuana growing under lights controlled by timers set to go on and off in 12-hour intervals. They located evidence which indicated someone may be staying at the residence periodically to care for the plants, Brooks said.
Detectives located items at the residence belonging to Garcia, Brooks said, along with 8 eight ounces of processed marijuana in the same room as the plants. The marijuana plants were eradicated and the processed marijuana seized as evidence.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.