CLEARLAKE, Calif. – As part of its ongoing effort to deal with illegal commercial marijuana grows, the Clearlake Police Department on Thursday eradicated 237 plants and arrested two men.

The agency reported that 20-year-old Aurelio Alcaraz and 77-year-old David Tovar were taken into custody during the service of a search warrant.

On Thursday officers executed a search warrant in the 3500 block of Madrone Street at a property that police said contained approximately 100 large budding marijuana plants. The residence was empty of furnishings and appeared the property was being used for the sole purpose of marijuana production.

During the search warrant service officers located evidence at the scene that indicated the plants had been freshly watered and heard noises consistent with a subject jumping over a fence, police said.

When officers looked over the fence, at the north end of the property, they noted the property to the north contained another large-scale marijuana grow which had not been seen during the initial investigation, according to the report.

Officers walked over to the adjoining property and contacted two Hispanic males at the front gate of the property who were identified as Alcaraz and Tovar, police said.

Alcaraz advised there was possibly two other subjects on his property which he identified as his neighbors. Police said Alcaraz stated the neighbors had advised him of the presence of police as they were fleeing from the adjoining marijuana grow. Officer were unable to locate the fleeing subjects.

Police said Alcaraz stated he was from Los Angeles and had come to Clearlake to grow marijuana for profit with Tovar as a worker.

Alcaraz and Tovar were arrested for unlawful cultivation of marijuana and marijuana for sale. Police said the property was secured and a search warrant was obtained and executed on Alcaraz's property.

Jail records showed that both remained in custody early Friday, with bail for each set at $15,000.

Officers eradicated approximately 100 marijuana plants from the first location and 137 marijuana plants from the second location. There was an overall total plant weight of approximately 1,700 pounds of plant material seized for destruction, according to police.

The Clearlake Police Department said it will continue to investigate commercial marijuana grows in the city of Clearlake.

Police said efforts on commercial grows should not be confused with the medical marijuana permit process and enforcement that involves code enforcement.

Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to call Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.