Humboldt Co. Drug Task Force Press Release:

On 08-14-2013 at about 4:00 pm the Humboldt County Drug Task Force received a telephone call from the Ferndale Police Department. An officer with the Ferndale Police Department had conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a traffic violation. When the officer contacted the driver of the vehicle he detected the odor of marijuana in the vehicle. The officer then searched the vehicle and he discovered about a ¼ of a pound of processed marijuana in the vehicle packaged for sales along with about $2,200 dollars in cash. The officer also located .22 caliber ammunition in the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Colin B. Town age 41, who is a convicted felon and is not allowed to have ammunition. Colin Town was taken into custody by the Ferndale Police Department.

An agent with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force wrote a search warrant for Colin Town’s residence, which was located in the 1700 block of Market Street, Ferndale. At about 7:00 pm a Superior Court Judge signed a search warrant for Colin Town’s residence.

Officers then served the search warrant at the residence. When officers arrived on scene they discovered Gabriel L. Town age 18, who is Colin’s son in front of the residence along with three juvenile boys, who did not live at the residence. All four of the subjects were detained.

When officers searched the residence they discovered a commercial marijuana growing operation in the basement area that contained, 450 growing marijuana plants that ranged in size from 6 inches to 4 feet. Agents located a butane, marijuana hash lab in the residence along with 6 rifles.

When an officer spoke to Gabriel Town he admitted to giving two of the juvenile boy’s marijuana to smoke at his residence. Two of the juvenile boys also admitted to smoking marijuana at the residence. The parents of the 3 juvenile boys were contacted and they responded to the scene to take custody of their children.

While on scene Francine D. Town age 52 arrived home with her two juvenile daughters. Francine is the wife of Colin and the mother of Gabriel.

After speaking to the Town family about the marijuana growing operation at their residence, officers arrested Gabriel Town for: possession of marijuana for sales, transportation of marijuana, manufacturing of a hash lab and for contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Colin Town was arrested for: transportation of marijuana, cultivation and possession for sales of marijuana, being a convicted felon in possession of firearms, convicted felon in possession of ammunition and for manufacturing of a hash lab.

Both Colin and Gabriel Town were transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and their bail was set at $500,000 dollars.

Francine Town was cited and released on scene for cultivation and possession for sales of marijuana and for child endangerment. Humboldt County Child Welfare Services were contacted regarding the living conditions of Town children. A follow up investigation will be conducted by CWS.

This case remains under investigation by the Humboldt County Drug Task Force. If anyone wants to report drug related activity they can contact Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-444-8095.