LAKE COUNTY – A cooperative effort between Lake and Mendocino County law enforcement officials netted arrests of several individual reported to be part of a crime network working across both counties.

Lt. Rusty Noe of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Investigative Services Bureau reported that Rex Ramsey, 68, and Divina Ramsey, 30, both of Longvale; and four Covelo residents – Terry Blansette, 61; Lila Blansette, 63; Barbara Daughtery, 38; and Roy Wentz, 44, were arrested on charges of cultivation and marijuana sales. Rex Ramsey and Divina Ramsey are facing additional firearms charges as well.

On Wednesday morning at approximately 7:30 a.m., deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, assisted by agents from the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, served a search warrant in the 38000 Block of Highway 162 in Longvale, Noe reported.

Noe said the investigation led to the arrest of Rex Ramsey and Divina Ramsey for cultivation of marijuana and possessing marijuana for sale after officers located 170 growing marijuana plants – in both indoor and outdoor gardens – and approximately 20 pounds of processed marijuana.

Also located were 12 guns, including a sawed-off shotgun and a loaded handgun, according to Noe, along with approximately $2,000 in U.S. currency, which was seized at the residence. Both subjects also were charged with being armed during the commission of a felony.

Noe said officers from the Mendocino County Department of Environmental Health were called to the scene after a diesel fuel spill was located. A 5-year-old child at the location was placed in the care of Child Protective Services.

Later on Wednesday, at 9:40 a.m., deputies and agents served an associated search warrant on another property owned by Rex Ramsey, located in the 27000 Block of Mendocino Pass Road in Covelo. Noe said that during the service of that search warrant, an additional 485 indoor marijuana plants and approximately 5 pounds of processed marijuana were located. Terry Blansette and Lilia Blansette were arrested during the investigation.

Another 100 plant indoor marijuana garden was located in a large industrial building on the same property, said Noe, which led to the arrests of Daughtrey and Wentz.

Meanwhile, in Lake County, at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday Lake County Sheriff's deputies and agents from the Lake County Narcotic Task Force served a search warrant at another residence owned by Rex Ramsey on Spruce Grove Road in Lower Lake, Noe said.

During that search, an additional 397 marijuana plants were eradicated from an indoor marijuana garden, according to Noe.

The three search warrants were part of a dual-county investigation which Noe said was the result of a commitment by Lake County Sheriff Rod Mitchell and Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman to target criminal networks operating in both counties.

Noe said the sheriffs have met several times to coordinate large commercial marijuana investigations which involve both counties.

“Sheriff Mitchell and I recognize the importance of working as a team on these large, dual-county criminal networks,” said Allman. “Working with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office has led to better information, better investigations and better enforcement in both our counties.”

Added Mitchell, “Criminal networks which have operated in both counties will be targeted. Coordinating investigations with Mendocino County will allow our officers to pursue the large commercials growers who are using both counties for their illegal activities.”

{mos_sb_discuss:2}