Two arrested in shooting at illegal marijuana grow
STAFF REPORT | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 years, 2 months AGO
EPHRATA — Two men are in Grant County Jail following a shooting at an illegal marijuana grow east of Ephrata, according to a statement from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office.
Juan Sammuel Cabrera Calderon, 49, of Hillsboro, Oregon, and Martin Chacon Martinez, 38, of Yelm were both arrested Monday on charges of second-degree assault and first-degree robbery, according to the statement. They are both currently being held on $1,000,000 bail.
At a little before 4:30 a.m. on Monday, the GCSO, along with Moses Lake and Ephrata police, responded to a report of two subjects who had sustained gunshot wounds, according to the statement.
When detectives arrived at the scene, they found an illegal marijuana grow operation on the property where the incident occurred. Members of the Grant County Sheriff's Major Crime Unit and the Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team responded to the scene to investigate.
More than 5,000 marijuana plants were eradicated, and more than 1,200 pounds of processed marijuana was seized, the statement said. An AR-style ghost gun was located on the property and seized as well as numerous chemicals and fertilizers. There was no power hooked up at the property and the electricity was provided by several generators. The approximate street value of the marijuana seized by law enforcement was more than $9 million, according to the GCSO statement.
Both victims were transported to the hospital by ambulance with serious injuries.
The investigation is ongoing, the GCSO statement said. INET is investigating the drug operation and the Major Crime Unit is investigating the assault and robbery incident. The Bureau of Reclamation, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Department of Ecology removed the illegal grow operation.
Law enforcement focuses on this type of illicit marijuana grows due to a substantial risk of structure fires caused by unpermitted and hazardous electrical modifications, the statement said. Growers also introduce chemicals into the ground by dumping by-products and chemicals out.
ARTICLES BY STAFF REPORT
Kennewick woman killed in Othello-area collision
OTHELLO — A Kennewick woman was killed when she ran into a semitruck at the intersection of SR 26 and South Booker Road early Thursday morning.
State Route 26 closed due to fatality collision
OTHELLO — State Route 26 is closed due to a fatality collision between a car and a semitruck near South Booker Road about four miles east of Othello, according to information from the Washington State Patrol and the Washington Department of Transportation. The road was closed about 6:30 a.m., according to the WSDOT. This is a developing story and more information will be added as it becomes available.
Coeur d'Alene to host fair housing training
Event takes place at public library in October
In this spirit, the city of Coeur d’Alene will soon provide a free “Fair Housing and Hot Topics” training. Partnering with Intermountain fair Housing Council, the event is slated for noon to 5 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Community Room, 702 E. Front Ave.