Sunday, Jul. 13, 2008

Law & Order

$29.8M IN POT PLANTS SEIZED: Narcotics investigators found 14,929 marijuana plants worth about $29.8 million Thursday in two outdoor growing operations in southern Tuolumne County, according to sheriff's officials. Authorities later destroyed the seized marijuana. No arrests were made. The Tuolumne Narcotics Team discovered the growing operations assisted by officials from the state Department of Justice's Campaign Against Marijuana Planting and agents from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, according to a Tuolumne County sheriff's news release. The marijuana gardens were found in the Moccasin Creek area near Highway 49. While investigators were flying above the gardens, they spotted a man fleeing the scene. Authorities did not find the man. The plants were mature and ready to be harvested, sheriff's officials said. They said the value of the marijuana was $2,000 per plant.

TIP LEADS TO ROBBERY SUSPECT: A tipster on a crime hot line led Stanislaus County sheriff's officials Saturday evening to William Randall Garrett Jr., who was wanted on suspicion of home invasion robbery. Garrett is suspected of forcing his way through the front door of an apartment with an accomplice and stealing a laptop computer, a cell phone and a camera during a June 4 robbery in Riverbank, according to officials. Garrett was featured in The Bee's Most Wanted column Wednesday. Sheriff's Sgt. Dennis Cordova said a tip from a caller to the CrimeStoppers hot line provided Garrett's whereabouts, a trailer home at the Lazy B Mobile Home Park at 7341 Eleanor Road in Oakdale. About 5 p.m., sheriff's officials arrived at the trailer and told Garrett to come out. Cordova said Garrett did not comply, so a K-9 unit deputy sent in his dog and Garrett surrendered without further incident.