Medicinal Marijuana Sparking More Violence in Butte County

Medicinal Marijuana Sparking More Violence in Butte County

Reported by: Britt Carlson
Email: bcarlson@khsltv.com
Last Update: 9/30 10:36 pm

Originally legalized to help patients with chronic pain and physical
discomfort, medical marijuana is stimulating more than just the people being
prescribed the drug.

Law enforcement agents tell Action News why they're seeing a boost in crime
associated with the drug in Butte County.

But with the newfound power came problems for law enforcement.

Sergeant Rob Merrifield with Chico Police says, "It's a pretty popular
crime, medicinal marijuana is fairly valuable."

In the past week, three crimes related to medicinal marijuana occurred in
Butte County.

Most recently, Robert Thomas of Oakland was arrested for attempted murder
and grand theft for stealing pot plants from a medicinal marijuana card
holders property.

When the resident chased after him, Thomas fired a shot, but missed him.

Six men were arrested Monday night at various locations in Butte County for
their involvement in an alleged illegal marijuana Co-op.

They say they were growing it for medicinal purposes.

This is the prime season law enforcement usually sees marijuana crimes pick
up.

Sergeant Steve Collins with the Butte County Sheriff's Office says, "In
September through November, marijuana's coming ripe for harvest, this is
where we see people trying to steal others medicinal marijuana."

And it's not just plants criminals are after.

Last week in Corning, a man was shot three times by another who stole his
bag of medicinal marijuana.

The big concern for police is people who are abusing the rights associated
with the drug.

Collins says, "They're harvesting under the disguise of (Prop) 215 and then
selling it. Those are the criminals we're looking for."

Collins adds, the Sheriff's Office is stretched thin, but they're on alert
for suspicious activity related to medicinal marijuana grows.

If you grow medicinal marijuana or you suspect there is an illegal grow in
your area, call the Sheriff's Department.

With the passing of Proposition 215 in 1996, medical patients were granted
the legal right to grow and smoke marijuana in their own homes.

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*More on Mondays raids in Butte*:

Search warrants net six arrests, 3,100 pounds of marijuana

By GREG WELTER - Staff Writer
Article Launched: 09/30/2008 08:49:22 PM PDT

Six men were arrested Monday night in various locations around Butte County
for allegedly taking part in an illegal marijuana cultivation cooperative.

The arrests were the result of a dozen search warrants served in Forest
Ranch, Chico, Concow and Berry Creek, following months of investigation.

Among those taken into custody was Forest Ranch resident Jeffrey Raymond
Nichol, 30, who authorities believe was a ringleader in the group.

Officers with the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force, Chico police,
Plumas County Sheriff's Office and the Butte County Sheriff's Special
Enforcement unit confiscated more than 3,100 pounds of unprocessed pot.

Officials estimated the street value at $400,000.

The marijuana was loaded into a truck and hauled away for destruction.

Also arrested Monday was Michael Lane Jones, 39, of Chico; Arthur Leonard
Jenkins, 37, of Concow; Matthew Kristian Herrick, 32, Dustin Lawrence Shae,
25, and Keith Colin Oshea, 26, all of Berry Creek.

Herrick and Shae were arrested in connection with two undeveloped parcels on
Simpson Ranch Road in Berry Creek.

Each man was booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville on suspicion of
cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale and criminal conspiracy.
The arrests were made without incident.

All six men allegedly know each other and are reportedly part of a
cooperative claiming to grow pot for medicinal use under Proposition 215.

Officials said the amount of pot taken in Monday's action far exceeds that
allowed for medicinal purposes, and added that multiple copies of doctor
recommendations were found at some of the search-warrant locations.

Some locations reportedly had evidence of indoor grows that had already been
harvested or removed as well as having outdoor plantations of marijuana.

No cash or growing equipment was seized Monday.

It's unknown how long the ring has been operating, but Butte County
sheriff's deputy Doug Patterson said the lengthy investigation of the
suspects turned up evidence that they had bought very pricey toys and taken
expensive vacations.

Officials said the warrants served Monday turned up evidence that may lead
to other arrests.

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