MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A marijuana grow in the Middletown area was located on Monday during an overflight mission conducted by the Lake County Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force.
The purpose of the overflights is to seek out probable illicit marijuana growing operations, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks.
Brooks said detectives observed a grow site located in the area of 20000 Big Canyon Road in Middletown, which appeared to contain more than 100 marijuana plants. Detectives also observed a travel trailer parked in close proximity of the marijuana.
On Tuesday, narcotics detectives and members of Lake County Code Enforcement responded to the grow site to determine if the marijuana grow was within compliance, Brooks said.
At the site they contacted Gregory Ceda and Cheryl Danforth, who claimed ownership of the marijuana grow, according to Brooks.
Narcotics detectives located 62 growing marijuana plants. Brooks said they also located approximately 50 additional plants which had just been harvested in a light deprivation type grow.
Brooks said Ceda and Danforth were in possession of approximately 25 pounds of processed marijuana. Danforth advised they were not harvesting the grow, but were cutting it down to be in compliance.
Both Danforth and Ceda relinquished all of the marijuana on site to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for destruction. Brooks said no criminal charges are pending.
Lake County Code Enforcement “red tagged” the property due to improper electrical wiring to a well, Brooks said. Code Enforcement also “red tagged” the travel trailer due to fluids leaking from the trailer into a creek.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.