CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police Officers arrested four suspects believed to be involved in the commercial cultivation of marijuana and seized more than 5,000 marijuana plants as a result of serving search warrants at residences located on 37th and 38th avenues.

On Thursday at approximately 8 a.m. teams of Clearlake Police officers simultaneously served four search warrants, two of which were located in the 15800 block of 38th Avenue and the other two were located in the 15700 block of 37th Avenue, according to Lt. Tim Celli.

The properties located on 38th Avenue were connected to each other. As a result of the service of the two search warrants on 38th Avenue, Celli said officers seized 685 marijuana plants, a loaded shotgun and approximately $7,000 in cash pending judicial asset forfeiture.

Arrested at the 38th Avenue properties were 25-year-old Tanya Ayala, 44-year-old Vicente Ayala and 40-year-old Isabelle Beltran-Vega of Clearlake, Celli said.

Celli said Vicente Ayala and Tanya Ayala were charged with cultivation, being armed in the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana for sale and conspiracy. Beltran-Vega was charged with resisting arrest after she attempted to run from the property when officers initially arrived.  

Officers served a search warrant at a location in the 15800 block of 37th Avenue. As a result of that search warrant, Celli said 141 mature, budding marijuana plants were seized.

Police arrested 39-year-old Clearlake resident Arturo Olmedo for possession of marijuana for sale and cultivation, Celli said.

At a second location in the 15700 block of 37th Avenue, officers seized 4,237 marijuana plants in various stages of growth from the backyard and two garages located on the property. The garages were converted for indoor growing, Celli said.

In addition, Celli said two pit bull dogs were impounded by Clearlake Animal Control.

The suspect was not contacted during the search warrant service, but has been identified, Celli said.

The investigation into this grow site is ongoing. Anyone with information related to these illegal marijuana growing operations is asked to contact the Clearlake Police Department Investigations Unit at 707-994-8251.