Photos: HCSO

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release: 

On July 16, 2018, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) served one search warrant in the area of Pilot Ridge near Holm Creek as a result of citizen complaints about illegal cultivation of marijuana. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Humboldt County Environmental Health and HAZMAT Unit assisted in the service of the warrant.

Deputies investigated one parcel, which did not possess nor was in the process of actively obtaining a commercial cannabis permit with the County of Humboldt.

Deputies eradicated approximately 969 growing marijuana plants and seized three firearms.

Assisting agencies found the following violations:

• One water diversion violation (up to $8,000 fine per day)
• One water pollution violation (up to $20,000 fine per day)

No arrests were made during the service of the warrant.

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.