CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Tuesday the Clearlake Police Department took four men into custody, and seized firearms and hundreds of marijuana plants as part of an investigation into an illegal grow.

Lt. Tim Celli said that officers served two separate search warrants Tuesday morning, which resulted in the seizure of 359 marijuana plants, 21 pounds of processed marijuana and two firearms.

Arrested were Clearlake residents Jose Ceja Lupian, 58; Jose Ricardo Olmedo, 45; Justin Louis Raab, 19; and John Jockamo Ambroselli, 24, Celli said.

Celli said officers served a search warrant in the 14000 block of Woodland Avenue where they contacted Lupian.

Lupian was discovered to be in possession of two firearms, which he is prohibited from possessing due to a prior felony marijuana cultivation conviction, Celli said.

At that residence Celli said officers also discovered 135 marijuana plants that were in various stages of growth.

They also found that the garage had been converted into an indoor marijuana growing facility which contained some growing marijuana plants. Celli said it was obvious that the conversion was new and not at full operation.

Lupian was arrested and booked at the Lake County Jail where he was charged with cultivation, armed in the commission of a felony and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Celli said.

Celli said officers served a second search warrant in the 3500 block of Sonoma Way, where they seized 224 marijuana plants in various stages of growth and located 21 pounds of processed marijuana packaged for sale.

At that location officers located and arrested Olmedo, Raab and Ambroselli. Celli said Olmedo was booked into the Lake County Jail for cultivation, Raab was charged with cultivation and possession of methamphetamine, and Ambroselli was charged with cultivation, and possession of marijuana for sale.     

Celli said the Clearlake Police Department has no interest in legal medicinal marijuana grows that are in compliance with the city ordinance, which requires people to follow a permitting process.

Information on the permit process can be located at the city of Clearlake Web site at www.clearlake.ca.us or at City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.