Full Notification

Public Information Release
November 3, 2014
Lieutenant Steve Brooks, Public Information Officer


Detectives investigate three separate cases which have resulted in a total of four arrests, the seizure of approximately 250 pounds of processed marijuana and the eradication of 4,118 marijuana plants.

On October 21, 2014 the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force conducted a raid / eradication operation in a rural area of Kelseyville, approximately one mile south of Kelsey Creek. The marijuana grow site was located earlier in the year during a routine marijuana overflight operation. This grow site was planted shortly after several large eradications were conducted in early July of this year, in the same geographical area. The site contained a total of 4,118 marijuana plants which were eradicated. Detectives said the plants were being irrigated using a complex gravity fed water system, which was diverting water from a nearby spring. No suspects were located at the time of the raid.

On October 22, 2014 Narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for a residence located in the 9000 block of Mojave Trail in Kelseyville. On October 23, at approximately 9:30 am, detectives served the search warrant at the aforementioned address. They located 25 year old Ryan Patrick Cravea and 48 year old Dean Edward McClellan, both of Kelseyville. Both subjects were detained without incident.

During the search detectives located an active butane honey oil lab and several pounds of processed marijuana. The extraction of concentrated cannabis using the BHO method is extremely dangerous and potentially explosive. Cravea admitted to cultivating marijuana for the purpose of sales and said it was his sole source of income. While conducting a search of the residence, detectives located indicia linking the suspects to another residence in Middletown. After securing and serving the second search warrant at the Middletown address, detectives located approximately ten pounds of processed marijuana. All of the processed marijuana was seized as evidence.

Both Cravea and McClellan were arrested for cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and manufacturing a controlled substance. Cravea was also charged with child endangerment. Both were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.

On October 24, 2014 deputies assigned to the Highway Narcotics Interdiction Detail, conducted an enforcement stop of a blue van at Highway 29 at Guenoc Lane in Middletown. The reason for the enforcement stop was vehicle code violations. The driver was identified as 31 year old Heliodoro Castellanos of Lower Lake. Deputies also identified 57 year old Jose Gabriel Pelayo of Clearlake as a passenger of the vehicle.

During the initial contact, deputies noticed the three rows of passenger seats in the van had been removed and the vehicle was hauling several large garbage bags and storage containers. Deputies immediately detected the odor of marijuana while speaking to both occupants. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 224 bags of processed, packaged marijuana. The total combined weight of the processed marijuana was approximately 230 pounds.

Castellanos admitted ownership of the marijuana and told deputies he was en route to throw the marijuana away. Both Pelayo and Castellanos were arrested for possession of marijuana for sale and transportation of marijuana. After Pelayo was arrested on the aforementioned charges, he was found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine. The additional charge of possession of a controlled substance was added to Pelayo’s charges.

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.