Full Notification

Public Information Release
June 18, 2014
Lieutenant Steve Brooks, Public Information Officer


A large marijuana grow site in the Jerusalem Valley area of Middletown was located during a routine overflight mission.

On June 12, 2014 members of the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force were conducting an overflight mission in the Jerusalem Valley area of Middletown. The purpose of the overflights is to seek out probable illicit marijuana growing operations. As detectives were working the Jerusalem Valley area, they located a large scale marijuana growing operation. The marijuana plants were being concealed within a large cornfield, located in the 20000 block of Jerusalem Grade Road in Middletown.

On June 13, 2014 at approximately 4:00 pm, detectives arrived at the property and accessed the grow site through a dirt easement road. Detectives located an outbuilding that was hidden under some trees on the northwest portion of the parcel. While conducting a protective sweep, they discovered the structure was being utilized as a large marijuana cloning operation. Detectives located and eradicated 3,740 marijuana plants from inside the structure. They also located a loaded .22 caliber rifle and a 12 gauge shotgun leaning against the wall, which were both seized as evidence.

Detectives entered the cornfield and observed a complex drip irrigation system and a large number of marijuana plants growing under the corn. Detectives located and eradicated a total of 12,969 marijuana plants from the cornfield. Narcotics detectives searched the area but were unable to locate any suspects or additional evidence. Detectives eradicated a total of 16,709 marijuana plants from the property.

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force will continue its efforts to eradicate narcotics from the communities of Lake County and seize the suspected profits of drug trafficking for the asset forfeiture whenever possible. Anyone with information that can assist the Task Force with this effort is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 263-3663.