The Sheriff’s Marijuana Enforcement Team, in conjunction with the Yucca Valley Code Compliance officer, served search warrants on multiple residences in the last two weeks for illegal marijuana grows. According to the Town of Yucca Valley, a search warrant was served the last week of February in the 5100 block of Old Woman Springs Road. Investigators found over 250 marijuana plants growing on the property in a non-permitted structure. Employees from Southern California Edison disconnected the electrical power due to hazardous wiring at the location. A Yucca Valley Code Compliance officer inspected the property and “red tagged” the residence and structure where the marijuana was being grown. The grow operation used advanced lighting systems, air conditioning systems, fans, exhaust blowers and a filter system to control the climate and odor inside the residence. Three suspects–Adam Michael-Martail Loyd, 37, Amanda Lee Santiago, 37, and Christina Marie Abeita, 27, all of Yucca Valley, were cited for violating the Yucca Valley Municipal Code that prohibits medical marijuana dispensaries and specific activity related to the distribution, sales, exchanging and giving away any form of marijuana within the town limits.
Then on Wednesday, March 2, about 11:30 a.m., investigators served a search warrant at 4625 Old Woman Springs where they found over 1,000 marijuana plants growing, along with evidence that the marijuana was being distributed for sales. The Sheriff’s Department named Arnold Caldwell, 52, of Yucca Valley, as a suspect, but states he has not been arrested yet pending review of charges of cultivation of marijuana for sales, and possession of marijuana for sales by the district attorney’s office.
Evidence at the location led investigators to 4400 block of Old Woman Springs Road where they found evidence of a THC extraction lab producing concentrated cannabis. Over 1,000 marijuana plants and 10 pounds of processed marijuana were also seized. Three additional suspects were located at the second location, but the Sheriff’s Department has not released their names pending review by the district attorney’s office. The Yucca Valley Code Compliance officer inspected the property and also found several building code violations. According to the Sheriff’s Department, all suspects will be charged with the manufacturing of a controlled substance, cultivation of marijuana and possession for sales of marijuana at the conclusion of the investigation.
