- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
Detectives seize hundreds of pounds of marijuana, arrest eight in Oct. 5 raid
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The service of a search warrant by the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force last Friday morning in the Clearlake Oaks area resulted in eight arrests, the eradication of more than 1,100 marijuana plants, the seizure of 430 pounds of processed marijuana and the confiscation of several weapons.
Arrested during the operation were Joseph Patrick Stewart, 36, of Glenhaven; Kyle Lamore Littlejohn, 42, of Springvale; Isidro Santiago Lopez, 30, of Visalia; Juvencio Garcia Cruz, 27, of Visalia; Demetrio Santiago, 31, of Madera; Simon Santiago Martinez, 26, of Orosi; Jimmy Hernandez, 18, of Bakersfield; and Abisai Santis Hernandez, 24, of Lamont, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks.
Brooks said that on Wednesday, Oct. 3, narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for the property located in the 21,000 block of Bartlett Springs Road in Clearlake Oaks.
At 7 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5, the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force served the search warrant with the assistance of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Land Management, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and the Lakeport Police Department, Brooks said.
The Lake County Sheriff’s SWAT Team made entry into the 300 acre parcel using the Mendocino County Sheriff’s armored Bearcat, according to Brooks.
When detectives entered the main residence, Brooks said they contacted and detained Joseph Stewart without incident.
Stewart was in possession of three firearms, one of which had been modified and was determined to be illegal to possess, Brooks said.
While conducting a search of one of the outbuildings adjacent to the main residence, narcotics detectives contacted and detained Kyle Littlejohn, Brooks said.
As narcotics detectives entered the processing area of the grow site, six individuals fled into the brush attempting to evade law enforcement. Brooks said the Drug Enforcement Administration helicopter provided air support, while SWAT Team members located the subjects, including Lopez, Cruz, Santiago, Martinez, Jimmy Hernandez and Abisai Hernandez.
Brooks said approximately 1,141 marijuana plants were eradicated from 11 separate grow sites on the property. A total of 430.3 lbs of processed marijuana was located in the processing area of the grow site, along with a loaded 9 millimeter Beretta handgun.
He said Stewart was arrested for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, being armed while in the commission of a felony, convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a short barreled shotgun. Littlejohn was arrested for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and an outstanding felony warrant for arson out of Tulare County.
Lopez, Cruz, Santiago, Jimmy Hernandez, Abisai Hernandez and Martinez all were arrested for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, being armed while in the commission of a felony and resisting arrest, Brooks said.
He said all of the subjects were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
Jail records indicated that Stewart had posted the required portion of his $15,000 bail and was released from custody.
As of Tuesday, the rest of the seven men arrested in the raid remained in custody, with Littlejohn’s bail set at $75,000 and Jimmy Hernandez’s set at $25,000.
In addition, Cruz, Lopez, Santiago, Martinez and Abisai Hernandez all had been placed on immigration holds, jail records indicated.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be contacted through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.