Sheriff's Office Seizes More Than 170 Pounds of Weed, Almost 2,500 Plants and $280K at Illegal Grow Sites, Agency Says

Sheriff’s Office Seizes More Than 170 Pounds of Weed, Almost 2,500 Plants and $280K at Illegal Grow Sites, Agency Says

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On January 14, 2021, deputies with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served two search warrants resulting from a neighborhood complaint regarding illegal cannabis cultivation in the greater Eureka area. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Humboldt County Code Enforcement assisted in the service of the warrants.
Two parcels were investigated during the service of the warrants. The parcels did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate cannabis commercially.
At the first parcel, located on the 1400 block of Freshwater Road, deputies eradicated approximately 1,568 growing cannabis plants. Deputies seized and destroyed approximately 87.5 pounds of processed cannabis, 5 pounds of cannabis bud and 8 pounds of Butane Honey Oil. Deputies also located and seized two illegal firearms and three high-capacity magazines, in addition to $140,500 pursuant to asset forfeiture proceedings.
Assisting agencies found the following violations:
Two water pollution violations (up to $20,000 fine per day, per violation)
Additional violations with civil fines are expected to be filed by the assisting agencies.
Jesiah Gilbride, age 21 of McKinleyville, was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the charges of unauthorized cultivation, harvesting or processing (HS 11358(d)(3)(C)), possession of a controlled substance for sales (HS 11359(b)), conspiracy to commit a crime (PC 182(a)(1)), knowingly renting property for storing a controlled substance (HS 11366.5(a)), destroying evidence (PC 135), resisting arrest (PC 148(a)(1)), possession of a firearm in commission of a felony (PC 12022(a)(1)) and possession of an illegal magazine (PC 32310).
At the second parcel, located on the 3000 block of Pigeon Point Road, deputies eradicated approximately 922 growing cannabis plants. Deputies seized and destroyed approximately 51.5 pounds of processed cannabis and 24.5 pounds of packaged cannabis bud. Deputies also located and seized $138,895 pursuant to asset forfeiture proceedings.
This case is still under investigation. Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.