2 men arrested after $1.5 million of marijuana found in during California wildfire patrol
Two men were arrested after deputies found they were in possession of more than $1.5 million of marijuana while the deputies patrolled an evacuated area of Pinon Hills on Friday, Sept. 13, amid the Bridge fire, authorities said Sunday.
The men, from Pinon Hills and Bullhead City, Ariz., were arrested on charges of conspiracy, cultivation of marijuana and transportation and sales of marijuana.
Deputies conducting security patrols around 9:21 p.m. in the 1500 block of Hollister Road — a section of Pinon Hills evacuated due to the Bridge fire — conducted a traffic stop on a Chevrolet Suburban towing a trailer with flat tires and no tail lights, according to a news release from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
During the traffic stop, deputies asked about a “strong odor of cannabis” and found about 500 processed marijuana plants in the trailer of the vehicle, the sheriff’s department said.
One of the suspects drove a second vehicle behind the SUV to act as a lookout, the sheriff’s department said.
Investigators learned of another potential marijuana grow at a home in the 1700 block of Trinity Road and executed a search warrant.
During the search, investigators said they found 700 marijuana plants and 1,300 pounds of processed marijuana. In all, officials estimate they found about $1.5 million of marijuana.
Investigators ask anyone with information to contact detectives at 760-552-6800 or the anonymous We Tip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME or wetip.com