MORGAN HILL
– What started out as an early morning raid for marijuana plants
Sunday also netted about 80 cockfighting birds and two weapons,
according to police.
Sheriff’s deputies found about 4,000 marijuana plants at the
Armsby Lane property, just off Sycamore Avenue in the western
foothills. They arrested five adults and cited three Morgan Hill
boys.
MORGAN HILL – What started out as an early morning raid for marijuana plants Sunday also netted about 80 cockfighting birds and two weapons, according to police.
Sheriff’s deputies found about 4,000 marijuana plants at the Armsby Lane property, just off Sycamore Avenue in the western foothills. They arrested five adults and cited three Morgan Hill boys.
The boys, ages 13, 14 and 16, who were working on the site with the plants, were cited for cultivation of marijuana and released.
The five adults were arrested and charged with cultivation of marijuana and possession of more than an ounce of marijuana. Some of the adults arrested were also charged with possession of weapons, raising cockfighting birds and child endangerment, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Lt. Dale Unger said.
Deputies also found the spurs that the birds wear when they fight, the hoods to keep them calm before fighting and steroids that were believed to be used on the birds. The 15 deputies who raided the west Morgan Hill farm also found a shotgun and handgun.
Julio Garcia, 53, Baudelia Naranjo, 35, Rojelio Faraias, 38, Rodrigon Pimentel, 37, and Jose Mendoza, 44, all of Morgan Hill, were arrested.
Terrance Helm, spokesman for Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office, said he could not release the estimated street value of the marijuana.
The Sheriff’s agriculture livestock deputy took charge of the fighting birds.
Unger said Sunday that the drug bust was the result of nearly a year of keeping an eye on the property.
“Approximately one year ago, we retrieved cultivated plants out of that area,” he said. “A month ago, our Star One helicopter passed over the area and plants were spotted, so deputies went up on foot and confirmed the crop. We began a six-day surveillance, day and night.”
Unger said it was actually water pipes and a fortunate glimpse inside a drying shed that led deputies to move in about 6 a.m. Sunday.
“We had been watching certain vehicles coming in and out, and we learned the property where the marijuana is grown is separate from where it is being processed,” he said. “There is a water tank on the property on Sycamore Avenue, and we noticed pipes from the tank leading to the property on Armsby … As one of our deputies, Sgt. Waldher, was watching the Armsby property, the door to one of the sheds opened and he was able to see the plants being dried out inside.”
Unger said as deputies moved in, they found a fully-loaded shotgun on the floor of the drying shed, where one of the boys was apparently working.
“He fled the scene, and, at that point, we were looking for him as a suspect and as a victim,” Unger said
Two of the adults tried to flee in a vehicle, but were immediately stopped. Inside, police discovered a handgun.
Unger said after further investigation, more charges may be filed.
