“CDFW wardens provide a great deal of assistance to local law enforcement officers investigating illegal cannabis cultivation, and certainly in this case, with an illegally-owned dwarf alligator. Fortunately, no one was hurt while serving this search warrant and discovering all of this illegal activity, including the BHO lab and firearms.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
HUMBOLDT COUNTY – On Dec. 15, 2021, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served a search warrant to investigate suspected illegal cannabis activities at a residence in McKinleyville. The parcel owner did not possess the required county permit and state license to cultivate or manufacture cannabis products commercially. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), Humboldt County Code Enforcement and the Humboldt County DHHS – Environmental Health and HazMat Unit assisted in the service of the warrant.
During the service of the warrant, law enforcement officers discovered an indoor cannabis cultivation operation and a large Butane Hash Oil (BHO) lab. Law enforcement officers:
- eradicated approximately 238 growing cannabis plants,
- seized and destroyed more than 509 pounds of processed cannabis, more than 499 pounds of cannabis bud, more than 364 pounds of cannabis shake, approximately 165 pounds of BHO product and seven pounds of cannabis seeds,
- and seized three firearms, including one unserialized “ghost gun” assault rifle.
Additionally, CDFW wardens located an illegally-owned dwarf alligator being showcased in a tank at the residence. CDFW coordinates the safe removal and re-homing of fish and wildlife found in these situations.
At the residence, deputies contacted and detained Ronnie Allan Miller, 42. Through their investigation, deputies learned that Miller and his two young children were living in the residence alongside the cannabis operation.
Ronnie Allan Miller
Miller was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of:
- child endangerment (PC 273a(a)),
- possession of an assault weapon (PC 30605),
- manufacture of a controlled substance (HS 11379.6(A)),
- maintaining a residence for the purpose of manufacturing a controlled substance (HS 11366.5(A)),
- possession of cannabis for sales (HS 11359(b)),
- possession of over six cannabis plants (HS 11358(C))
- and civil contempt (CP 1209).
