MENDOCINO CO., 9/6/24 – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) raided a property near Spyrock Road outside Laytonville for illegal cannabis cultivation in August, resulting in the discovery of over 900 plants, 143 pounds of untrimmed bud and an unregistered handgun.
According to MCSO, a complaint was filed by a community member about what was believed to be an illegal cannabis growing operation involving water diversion from a neighboring property located in the 1200 block of Deer Trail Drive.
MCSO confirmed water diversion was occurring and being used for cannabis cultivation. After an investigation. It was also confirmed that the property diverting the water was growing cannabis without a permit.
A search warrant was issued and MCSO, in partnership with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), served the search warrant. During the search on August 22, authorities discovered 909 cannabis plants in two outdoor grows and eight hoop houses. An unregistered handgun was also found.
CDFW confirmed that officials noted six state violations, including water diversion and water pollution.
Three men were onsite when the warrant was served. Two, Samuel Eder and Fernando Reyes Jordan, were arrested. The third man was released.
Eder was retained on a Humboldt County arrest warrant and held under $5,000 bail at Mendocino County Jail. Jordan was released. The Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office is charging both men with illegal cultivation, along with the CDFW violations, with additional charges possible after investigations are completed by the CDFW.