From the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

On 06-10-2013 at 0730 am the Humboldt County Drug Task Force assisted by the Fortuna Police Department served a search warrant at a residence located in the 3500 block of Tami Drive, Fortuna. Officers located two subjects in the residence along with their 4 year old daughter. The two subjects were identified as Victoria Adeli Miller, age 29 and Benjamin Joseph Dehaven, age 30.

When officers searched the residence they discovered an indoor marijuana growing operation located in the attached garage and inside one of the bathrooms. Officers seized a total of 341 growing marijuana plants that ranged in size from 6 inches to 3 feet in height. Officers located 2 pounds of processed marijuana in the residence along with about 4 ½ pounds of marijuana leaves.

Officers noticed a possible electrical fire hazard associated with the indoor marijuana growing operation and they contacted the Fortuna Building and Planning Department, who responded to the residence. After they inspected the electrical wiring the Fortuna Building and Planning Department determined there was a possible electrical fire hazard. Fortuna Building and Planning Department then contacted PG&E to have the electrical service shut off to the residence.

When officers searched the backyard of the residence they located numerous growing opium poppy plants approximately 5 feet in height. Officers noticed that several of the opium poppy plant pods had been recently cut or scored. Officers also located several dried poppy pods in the garage that had been cut or scored. Based on this information officers believed that the opium poppy plants were being used to obtain opium.

Officers contacted Humboldt County Child Welfare Services, who responded to the residence to take the 4 year old girl into protective custody. Officers arrested Dehaven and Miller for possession and possession for sales of opium and for cultivation and possession for sales of marijuana and for felony child endangerment.

Dehaven and Miller were transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility in Eureka where they were booked on the above charges. Miller was booked and released from the jail do to female overcrowding. Dehaven is currently being held on $50,000 dollar bail.

This case is still under investigation by the Humboldt County Drug Task Force.

Anyone with information on this case or related drug activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-444-8095 or the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Tip line at 707-268-2539.