From the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

On 08-20-2012 at about 1200 hours the Humboldt County Drug Task Force received a telephone call from a California State Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Agent regarding a marijuana investigation. The BNE Agent stated that they had served a search warrant with the assistance of the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office on a parcel of property located in the Indian Creek area near Weaverville this morning at about 0800 hours. The BNE Agent stated that they had seized about 1,000 outdoor growing marijuana plants. . BNE Agents stated that they arrested two subjects named Don Dugger and Bryan Douglas Robelen for cultivation and possession for sales of marijuana.

The BNE Agent stated that the parcel of property in Indian Creek is owned by William John Robelen age 50. The BNE Agent told a Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agent that Robelen owns two parcels of property in the Dinsmore area of Humboldt County.

A Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agent then wrote a search warrant for Robelen’s two parcels of property in Dinsmore. Two BNE agents were conducting surveillance until Humboldt County Drug Task Force could arrive on scene to serve the search warrant on Robelen’s property in Dinsmore.

At about 1500 hours the Humboldt County Drug Task Force with assistance from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office were traveling on Highway 36 near Dinsmore when they heard radio traffic from BNE Agents that William Robelen had just left his residence in a pickup truck towing a trailer and was traveling west bound on highway 36.

The BNE Agents attempted to conduct a traffic stop on Robelen’s vehicle, but he refused to yield continued to traveling west bound on highway 36. Two Humboldt County Sheriff’ Deputies took over the pursuit just west of Dinsmore. Robelen traveled approximately 8 miles until he finally yielded to the red lights and siren.

Robelen was taken into custody without further incident for failing to yield to a law enforcement vehicle. When Officers searched Robelen’s pickup truck and trailer they located 304 growing marijuana plants approximately 6 inches tall in grow containers.

Robelen was arrested for cultivation, possession for sales and transportation of marijuana also for failing to yield to a police vehicle. Robelen was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional facility and his bail was set at $50,000 dollars.

Officers then served a search warrant at Robelen’s residence and property which is located in the 45000 block of highway 36 just east of Dinsmore. When officers arrived at the property they did not locate any subjects on the property.

Officers then searched the two structures on the property and seized 36 indoor growing marijuana plants that were about 12 inches tall. Officers located two greenhouse structures on the property that contained 147 growing marijuana plants about 5 feet tall. Officers seized approximately 70 pounds of drying marijuana containing buds from one of the structures on the property..

Possible Federal charges for cultivation and possession of marijuana for sales is being sought against William Robelen by BNE.

This case is still under investigation by the Humboldt County Drug Task force and BNE.