PREVIOUSLY: Carlotta Raid Today  Law Enforcement Convoy Out Hwy 36

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From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On 10-01-2013, approx. 0900 hours Humboldt County Sheriffs Deputies assisted by the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office Environmental Task Force, Cal Fire, Humboldt County Code Enforcement, California Fish and Wildlife and Humboldt County Environmental Health served a Humboldt County Superior Court search warrant in the Burr Valley area of Bridgeville on three parcels of property. When the officers arrived at the scene they located three greenhouses containing 463 growing marijuana plants ranging in height for 4’ to 6’, along with 62 pounds of processed marijuana bud. The estimated value of the total marijuana is conservatively $525,000.00. Officers also located empty rifle cases and ammunition at the site. There were cabin structures on two of the three parcels officers searched. No one was home.

The officers also witnessed environmental damage consisting of illegal water diversion where the stream had been dug up to access more water. The stream is a tributary to Dairy creek which feeds into Burr Creek. Burr Creek is Salmon and Steelhead habitat per California Fish and Wildlife which is concerned the illegal water diversion will cause sediment to flow downstream and affect the Salmon and Steelhead spawning area.

A State of California Environmental Scientist was on scene assisting with the service of the search warrant and evaluating environmental damage. The scientist located a spring and adjoining locations that were excavated and graded by heavy equipment. At the spring a prehistoric Native American archaeological site was detected.  It was evident that the prehistoric archaeological site was damaged by grading and excavation work associated with the marijuana grows. An Archaeologist was consulted and confirmed the items located were pre-historical Native American.

No arrests have been made at this time, however suspects have been identified and arrest warrants will be sought for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, stream diversion and polluting a waterway.

The California Fish and Wildlife Public Information Officer is Jordan Traverso who can be reached at Ph. 1-916-654-9937. 

The investigation is ongoing.

A previous edition of this story incorrectly identified the grow as in Carlotta.