12 firearms seized, nearly 1,000 pot plants eradicated in Merced County

Investigators on Sunday seized a dozen firearms and eradicated nearly 1,000 marijuana plants, many of which authorities believe were being grown to finance organized criminal operations, the Merced County Sheriff’s Department reported.

Deputies decided against taking anyone to jail, but said they would ask the Merced County District Attorney’s Office to consider filing criminal charges against about 10 people.

Investigators served six search warrants in Merced County, focusing mainly in the Winton area.

“There were 12 guns seized, including an assault-style rifle with a high-capacity magazine,” Sgt. Ray Framstad said.

Deputies eradicated hundreds of marijuana plants. Some of the plants found in the 6900 block of Friesen Lane in Winton were at least 12 feet tall.

Over the last two weeks, the Sheriff’s Department has reported eradicating more than 15,000 plants from more than 30 Merced County homes. Deputies so far this year have confiscated 45 illegal firearms, shut down a methamphetamine laboratory and seized more than 2 pounds of cocaine – all while investigating commercial marijuana growers.

Detective Chris Sziraki said deputies this year have focused exclusively on taking down commercial marijuana operations. He said said such operations primarily finance organized criminal enterprises.

“We’re not going after anyone who is growing something they use as medicine. We’ve been helping anyone who calls us and wants help being in compliance with the county marijuana ordinance,” Sziraki noted. “If you’re doing it the right way, doing it responsibly, we’re willing to help educate you on how to do it legally.”

Sziraki noted that more than half of the department’s homicide cases in 2014 stemmed from marijuana-related violence.

“It’s safe to say the ordinance is working,” Sziraki said. “This year, none of the homicides we’ve investigated have been related to marijuana.”

Preventing violence frequently associated with large or commercial-sized marijuana grows was the goal of the county’s 12-plant per parcel ordinance, which the Board of Supervisors adopted in 2013.

“There’s still some confusion out there about the ordinance. Some people still think it’s 12 plants per address, but we’re doing what we can to educate the public about the right way,” Framstad said.

Detectives encourage anyone considering growing medical marijuana to contact the Sheriff’s Department with any questions.

This story was originally published September 13, 2015 at 6:09 PM with the headline "12 firearms seized, nearly 1,000 pot plants eradicated in Merced County."