Law & Order

THREE ARRESTED ON MARIJUANA CHARGES: Modesto police seized 73 marijuana plants and 8 pounds of harvested marijuana in two raids Thursday. Three people were arrested on suspicion of cultivating marijuana and possessing marijuana for the purpose of sales. They all told police the marijuana was for medicinal use, Sgt. Craig Gundlach said. An anonymous tip led police to Ronald Brown, 39. He was arrested at his home in the 3800 block of Wilkesboro Avenue, just west of Johansen High School, after police found about 8 pounds of marijuana drying in his garage. Gundlach said he had an expired doctor's recommendation to smoke marijuana. State law allows patients to grow up to half a pound or in some cases more, if deemed necessary. In a separate investigation, Gundlach said police arrested Robert Dawdy, 36, and Meuy Saeteurn, 28, after investigators searched two homes the couple rent in Modesto. At one of the homes, on the 4000 block of Faith Lane just southeast of Orangeburg Avenue and Claus Road, officers found 25 marijuana plants growing in a bedroom, Gundlach said. He said officers found 48 plants in the garage at the other home on the 1600 block of Marston Way, northeast of the intersection of Floyd Avenue and Coffee Road.

TRAFFIC STOP LEADS TO DRUG BUST: Three women were arrested on suspicion of methamphetamine possession Thursday after they were pulled over in Delhi. Suspects Misty Smith, 32, of Modesto, Sarah Ayala, 28, of Turlock and Patricia Holmes, 48, of Delhi were arrested by Merced County sheriff's deputy Jason Cope, who pulled over their car for an expired registration. After stopping the car, Cope learned that Smith had an outstanding warrant on drug charges. Sheriff's spokesman Tom MacKenzie said a small amount of meth was found in Smith's purse, along with a scale commonly used to weigh drugs for sale.

MANTECA BANK ROBBER SOUGHT: Manteca police are asking for the public's help tracking down a bank robber caught on camera Thursday. He reportedly entered Bank of America about 9:15 a.m. at 102. E. Yosemite Ave., approached a teller and fled with an undisclosed amount of money. The bank's cameras captured several photographs of the robber walking through the bank and at a teller stand. He fled east on East Yosemite Avenue and then south on Grant Avenue, police spokesman Rex Osborn said. The robber is described as white, 20 to 30 years old, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 with a thin build and a scruffy beard. He was wearing a baseball cap, a blue T-shirt and dark pants, and carrying a light blue backpack that tied at the top. Those with information should call 823-4636.

TRUCK HITS FOUR MULES: Four mules walking southbound on Highway 152 were killed when they were hit by a truck loaded with crushed wrecked cars. According to the California Highway Patrol, the accident was reported at 3:41 a.m. near Berenda Slough just west of Highway 99. The big rig, traveling west, hit the mules and came to rest on its side on the eastbound lanes, spilling its load of wrecked cars. Officers said another vehicle, traveling east on 152, crashed into the wreckage. The big rig driver and a person in the other car suffered minor injuries, officers said.