Eureka Police Dept: Fairfield Street Raid Nets 528 Plants
Eureka Police Department
604 C Street
Eureka, CA 95501
Phone: (707) 441-4060
FAX: (707) 441-4334
9/30/2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Subject: POP Serves Search Warrant at Fairfield Residence – One Arrested and 528 Marijuana Plants/Firearm Seized
Contact: Sergeant Steve Watson
• Front Desk (707) 441-4060
• POP Office (707) 441-4373
• Work Cell (707) 601-5464
On 9/30/10, at about 3:00 PM, officers with the Eureka Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing Unit (POP), along with members of the City of Eureka’s Community Development Department, served a search warrant at a residence on the 2200 block of Fairfield Street, Eureka. The warrant was a result of neighborhood complaints about a possible indoor marijuana grow at the location.
Upon arrival, officers discovered many of the residence’s windows were boarded up with plywood and a video surveillance system was in place. After receiving no answer at the door, officers forced entry into the home. The resident, Michael Nolan Brown, was not home at the time.
During a search of the residence, officers discovered a large and sophisticated indoor marijuana growing operation. Officers subsequently located and seized 528 marijuana plants in various stages of growth (from around 6” to 3’ in height) and approximately 3 pounds of processed marijuana. Officers also located a loaded .357 revolver along with scales, packaging materials, and pay/owe ledgers indicating for profit marijuana sales activity.
While officers were still processing the scene, Brown and a female companion arrived home in a pick-up truck and were detained. During an interview with the investigating officers, Brown, who had a Prop 215 medical marijuana recommendation, stated he was growing for a dispensary in San Diego and getting paid for it.
Members of the Community Development Department inspected the grow with officers and determined it was also clearly out of compliance with the City’s new Medical Cannabis Ordinance (the grow was over 50 square feet cumulative, its lighting exceeded 1200 watts total, and there were wiring and ventilation issues etc.).
Officials with the Eureka Fire (EFD) and Building Departments were also called to the scene to inspect the residence. Electrical wiring violations were found along with fire hazards from the illegal wiring and boarded up windows. As a result, PG&E responded and the residence’s meter was pulled. Of note, the residence’s September 2010 PG&E bill was over $13,000.00.
Brown, 57 (a Texas native), was arrested and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale and for maintaining a place for purposes of drug sales. His female companion was released at the scene.
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