CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Over the last week and a half the Clearlake Police Department has served search warrants leading to the arrests of several individuals for illegal commercial marijuana cultivation, with hundreds of plants seized and three residences red-tagged for building code violations.

Det. Ryan Peterson said the operations took place beginning on Aug. 24, and continued earlier this week.

On Aug. 24 officers executed search warrants in the 3400 block of Sixth Street and the 16000 block of 31st Avenue in Clearlake, Peterson said.

During the execution of the search warrant at the 16000 block of 31st Avenue, approximately 487 growing marijuana plants were located along with dried processed marijuana and indicia noting the sale of marijuana. Peterson said no one was located at the residence during the execution of the search warrant.

The residence on the property was determined to be in violation of numerous building code violations and was subsequently red-tagged by the Clearlake Building Department, Peterson said.

While officers were serving the search warrant at the 3400 block of Sixth Street, they located and arrested 36-year-old Liliana Guadarrama, according to Peterson.

Peterson said that during the search officers located 80 large growing marijuana plants throughout the property, with the plants weighing a total of 1,360 pounds. Additionally, officers located a previously reported stolen handgun inside the residence where Guadarrama was located. 

That residence also was red-tagged due to numerous building code violations, Peterson said.

Guadarrama was booked into the Lake County Jail for the felony violations of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, being armed in the commission of a crime and possession of a stolen handgun, according to Peterson.

On Wednesday, officers served another search warrant in the 3400 block of Fifth Street, where Peterson said they located and arrested 38-year-old Miguel Mendoza-Balderrama. 

A search of the property revealed 81 large growing marijuana plants which weighed approximately 1,140 pounds, Peterson said.

He said the entire property was covered with the growing marijuana, with Mendoza-Balderrama living in a small tent.

The property had a water hose and electrical power line coming from a connected residence where an elderly female, who is not being identified, was living. The elderly female was determined to have no connection to the illegal cultivation of marijuana, Peterson said.

Peterson said Mendoza-Balderrama was booked into the Lake County Jail for the felony violations of cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale.

On Thursday, officers executed a search warrant in the 4300 block of Wilder Avenue, where Peterson said they arrested 19-year-old Yessica Contreras.

He said Contreras was located inside a bedroom of the residence where approximately 21 pounds of processed marijuana was discovered in a closet. The processed marijuana was packaged for sale in one pound increments. 

During a further search of the residence, 48 large growing marijuana plants were found, with a total weight of approximately 660 pounds, Peterson said.

Peterson said evidence of other involved suspects was located and further investigation into those suspects is continuing. 

The residence on that property also was red-tagged, Peterson said.

Contreras was determined to be approximately six months pregnant and due to her medical state was released with pending charges for the felony cultivation of marijuana and sale of marijuana, Peterson said.

Additionally, the property was discovered to be associated with numerous other properties involved in commercial marijuana growing operations within the city. Peterson said the owner of the properties is being reviewed for possible criminal charges as well.

The Clearlake Police Department reported that it will continue to actively investigate commercial marijuana growing operations in the City of Clearlake. Anyone with information in regard to the illegal cultivation of marijuana is encouraged to contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.