5 arrested in 2 separate illegal marijuana grow operations
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department announced the arrests of three men Thursday accused of running an illegal marijuana growing operation. And five more arrests were announced Friday morning in a separate illegal operation.
The department’s Marijuana Enforcement Team and Special Investigations Bureau served four search warrants on Tuesday at properties in the unincorporated community of Sage, a remote hilly rural area halfway between Temecula and Idyllwild.
The four locations were located on Benton Road, Willow Creek and two others on Red Mountain Road.
Police said three suspects were arrested in the first incident, and more than 8,200 marijuana plants were destroyed. 1,700 pounds of processed marijuana prepared for sale were also seized. Officers said they also found a handgun at the scene.
Deputies booked three men into the Riverside County Jail’s Southwest Detention Center:
Mariano Perez, 23, of Sage
Manuel Perez, 32, of Sage
Salvador Perez, 36, of Sage
Sage is located east of Riverside County’s Lake Skinner Park.
The other incident led to five more arrests after a three search warrants were served in Aguanga on Thursday, April 28. The first search warrant took place on a 20-acre vacant parcel on Mindy Lane and the two others were served in the 40000 block of Beaver Avenue, officials said in the release.
The investigations involved three large-scale marijuana grow operations, which included indoor greenhouse-type buildings. Three suspects were taken into custody at the first location and a total of 4,591 marijuana plants were destroyed, and 408 lbs. of processed marijuana for sales was seized.
The evidence seized at the second location was 3,830 mature plants, six pounds of finished marijuana for sales, two firearms and $11,000 US currency.
Five suspects were arrested in two different locations.
Seth Thomason, 21, of Hemet
Samuel Thomason, 20, of Hemet
Jose Perez, 40, of Perris
Sone Kennavong, 52, of Fresno
Christine Keooudone, 48, of Fresno
Anyone with additional information about these cases, or who would like to report a suspected illegal marijuana cultivation, can anonymously call the Riverside County Sheriff Department at (951) 955-1720.
Residents can also report crimes online at http://www.riversidesheriff.org/crimetips.
