More on the Laytonville Shooting

Mendocino Sheriff Press Release:On 8-18-2010 at approximately 0600 the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office Marijuana Eradication Unit along with Patrol Deputies and Detectives were assisted by The Major Crimes Task Force, Mendocino County Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Mendocino County Probation, Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Agents, Alcohol,Tobacco and Fireams Agents and Forest Service Agents served a search warrant at the listed address on Branscomb Road just West of Laytonville.[This was in the 3000 block of Branscomb Rd.]

The search warrant was for a large Marijuana cultivation operation involving armed guards and ex felons.

On arrival Law Enforcement conducted several residential searches on the large parcel of property. Several marijuana plants were seized along with firearms and other narcotic paraphernalia.

At the residential site the following subjects were located and arrested. Suspect Stephenson was arrested for 12021(a)PC-Possession of a firearm by an ex felon, 12316(B)(1)PC-Possession of ammunition by an ex-felon, 11358 and 11359H&S-Cultivation and Sales of Marijuana. Suspect Higgs was arrested for 11377aH&S-Possession of a Controlled Substance, 12280(b)PC-Possession of an assault rifle, 12090PC-Tampering with a firearm serial number. Suspect Dutra was arrested for 11358 and 11359H&S-Cultivation and sales of Marijuana. Suspect Delfino Contreras was arrested for 1325USC ( immigration violation). The listed suspects were transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail on their listed charges.

Law enforcement then proceeded to two large Marijuana grows which were identified as part of the same investigation. At the upper site officers encountered numerous armed suspects tending to the garden. A total of 426 growing Marijuana Plants were located and eradicated at this location. Several firearms and ammunition were further recovered. At this location an officer involved shooting took place and one of the armed guards was shot and killed by deputy sheriffs The Mendocino County District Attorney along with the California Department of Justice are investigating this incident.

Law Enforcement were investigating a lower site at approximately the same time as the upper site and a firefight ensued. There was no evidence located which revealed anyone was shot or injured during this armed encounter. The Mendocino County District Attorney and the California Department of Justice are investigating. At this site a total of 1980 Marijuana Plants were eradicated along with the recovery of a firearm and ammunition.

The names of those arrested below seem to indicate the scenario of the local farmer hired Hispanic version rather than the Mexican Cartel version.

Suspect #1: Gerald Stephenson 52 Laytonville,Ca
Suspect #2: Kelly Dutra 41 Laytonville,Ca
Suspect #3: David Higgs 50 Laytonville,Ca
Suspect #4: Delfino Contreras 22 Transient
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Dave
Guest
13 years ago

Interesting.

We seldom hear about ‘local” growers with so much firepower.

The general assumption is that the cartels are the only ones heavily armed.

Throw in the criminal element and it’s hard to look at this operation as a “righteous grow.”

Dave
Guest
13 years ago

Interesting.

We seldom hear about ‘local” growers with so much firepower.

The general assumption is that the cartels are the only ones heavily armed.

Throw in the criminal element and it’s hard to look at this operation as a “righteous grow.”

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
13 years ago

*Grasshopper Wrote:

Miserable state of affairs. This is the village that has been trying to convince me for at least five years that it is a safe place to raise my child when all I EVER argued was that isolation is no way to raise any child. For the last year I have been trying to tell this village that it is far too late for you all. Your chosen livelihood has been a bootlegger’s paradise for so long you cling to a nightmare you think is a dying dream.

Our illusions differ in this one significant manner. I delude myself that the child stolen by your community will one day have legitimate choices; given what I consider the logical unfolding of events which includes eradicating of megalomaniac cultivators as easily as pulling up weeds. Mine is a hopeful illusion. You all fool yourselves into thinking that there is still time left to run when you hear the words Homeland Security thrown into the jumble of federal agents doing their jobs and local ones struggling to keep theirs. Self destructive does not begin to describe the individuals left in that area who did not run about the time my ex wife showed up (eight years ago) to help you refine the despicable behavior your village has been known for since the invention of the two stroke motor.

Oh, no. Not here, not us… OFFICER. We need the National Guard to get rid of these destructive elements so Mom and (expletive deleted) Pop can exploit the nation unincumbered by cartels and gangsters. The competition is killing us, Uncle Sam… Isn’t there some way you can help our poor huddled masses that were born here, never pay taxes and promote the destruction of the Union? Wake up. The word is treason now. Glory be and pass the damn butter. I’m gonna need popcorn for this show.

(Compassion for the Universal Suffering of Mankind included in this rhetorical propaganda.)

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
13 years ago

*Grasshopper Wrote:

Miserable state of affairs. This is the village that has been trying to convince me for at least five years that it is a safe place to raise my child when all I EVER argued was that isolation is no way to raise any child. For the last year I have been trying to tell this village that it is far too late for you all. Your chosen livelihood has been a bootlegger’s paradise for so long you cling to a nightmare you think is a dying dream.

Our illusions differ in this one significant manner. I delude myself that the child stolen by your community will one day have legitimate choices; given what I consider the logical unfolding of events which includes eradicating of megalomaniac cultivators as easily as pulling up weeds. Mine is a hopeful illusion. You all fool yourselves into thinking that there is still time left to run when you hear the words Homeland Security thrown into the jumble of federal agents doing their jobs and local ones struggling to keep theirs. Self destructive does not begin to describe the individuals left in that area who did not run about the time my ex wife showed up (eight years ago) to help you refine the despicable behavior your village has been known for since the invention of the two stroke motor.

Oh, no. Not here, not us… OFFICER. We need the National Guard to get rid of these destructive elements so Mom and (expletive deleted) Pop can exploit the nation unincumbered by cartels and gangsters. The competition is killing us, Uncle Sam… Isn’t there some way you can help our poor huddled masses that were born here, never pay taxes and promote the destruction of the Union? Wake up. The word is treason now. Glory be and pass the damn butter. I’m gonna need popcorn for this show.

(Compassion for the Universal Suffering of Mankind included in this rhetorical propaganda.)

Mr. Nice
Guest
Mr. Nice
13 years ago

The names of those arrested below seem to indicate the scenario of the local farmer hired Hispanic version rather than the Mexican Cartel version.

We are sure by the names of money man’s pawns that the money trail ends locally?

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Mr. Nice

Certainly a good point. Though I haven’t heard of any suggestions that the Mexican Cartel was using local non-Hispanics.

Mr. Nice
Guest
Mr. Nice
13 years ago

The names of those arrested below seem to indicate the scenario of the local farmer hired Hispanic version rather than the Mexican Cartel version.

We are sure by the names of money man’s pawns that the money trail ends locally?

Staff
Member
13 years ago
Reply to  Mr. Nice

Certainly a good point. Though I haven’t heard of any suggestions that the Mexican Cartel was using local non-Hispanics.

sageplant
Guest
sageplant
13 years ago

leaf eating cucumber beetle

sad that one more person, has been killed over the weed. i’m sure he will be missed by his family. came for the oppertunity and now is gone.

sageplant
Guest
sageplant
13 years ago

leaf eating cucumber beetle

sad that one more person, has been killed over the weed. i’m sure he will be missed by his family. came for the oppertunity and now is gone.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

It is sad. I keep trying to imagine being foolish enough to point a gun at officers. My mind just can’t wrap around it. I’d like to know more.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

It is sad. I keep trying to imagine being foolish enough to point a gun at officers. My mind just can’t wrap around it. I’d like to know more.

Black Flag
Guest
13 years ago

Have to wonder if classes on Advanced Infantry Tactics and Urban Combat wouldn’t make a ton of money….

How does one lose a firefight with the high ground and larger numbers of soldiers?

Also have to wonder how many toyota trucks with 707 stickers were captured along with the amount of pit bulls killed?

Black Flag
Guest
13 years ago

Have to wonder if classes on Advanced Infantry Tactics and Urban Combat wouldn’t make a ton of money….

How does one lose a firefight with the high ground and larger numbers of soldiers?

Also have to wonder how many toyota trucks with 707 stickers were captured along with the amount of pit bulls killed?

Joe Blow
Guest
13 years ago

So, the newspapers print that much – what’s the rest of the story?

Joe Blow
Guest
13 years ago

So, the newspapers print that much – what’s the rest of the story?

Joe Blow
Guest
13 years ago

What’s a “righteous grow”?

Did the know this BEFORE enforcing the search warrant or after? “The search warrant was for a large Marijuana cultivation operation involving armed guards and ex felons.”

Joe Blow
Guest
13 years ago

What’s a “righteous grow”?

Did the know this BEFORE enforcing the search warrant or after? “The search warrant was for a large Marijuana cultivation operation involving armed guards and ex felons.”

Joe Blow
Guest
13 years ago

I’d hate to be out cruising some timber job with this lurking around:

“Mendocino County Sheriffs Office Marijuana Eradication Unit along with Patrol Deputies and Detectives were assisted by The Major Crimes Task Force, Mendocino County Special Weapons and Tactics Team, Mendocino County Probation, Homeland Security, Drug Enforcement Agents, Alcohol,Tobacco and Fireams Agents and Forest Service Agents.”

I used to pack a small ax and a can of paint on my belt – be enough to get shot anymore. What would they call that? A “RIGHTEOUS” death, or is it shoot? You know, like the poor guy in Blue Lake the other day?

Staff
Member
13 years ago

One person dead in the grows this year from pointing a gun at an officer–I can understand one person foolish enough to do this. But 5? That is harder to grasp.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

One person dead in the grows this year from pointing a gun at an officer–I can understand one person foolish enough to do this. But 5? That is harder to grasp.

Joe Blow
Guest
13 years ago

Kym,

If you can go to this link to today’s expose on Democracy Now, you may get some insight into “why.” Next, go to today’s Times-Standards front-page article, “Marijuana grow operation shooting leaves one dead, …” and look at the picture of the six Sheriff’s Deputies. The caption in the newspaper says: “SWAT team members prepare to depart the Kneeland Airport to a large outdoor marijuana garden on Thursday. …” In the article it says, “…[A] heavily armed SWAT team, dressed in camouflage fatigues and full tactical gear …” Further along the article says, “…[N]early two dozen officers clad in camouflage, wearing bulletproof vest and toting automatic weapons, …” This comment was of interest, “Downy (Undersheriff Mike Downey) said at the time that the team would approach the site with an abundance of caution because it was not clear if any other armed individuals were in the pot grow.”

Next, read my article, in The Joe Blow Report 2, “What Does This Mean” and also the associated comment by Kevin Hoover of the Arcata Eye that he made about my observations.  A couple of things standout here, at least they do for me. One is, why do we need para-military police with automatic weapons in our society? By the way, how many of those officers are military war veterans from Iraq or Afghanistan trained as “hunter-killers”? Second, the policing authorities, the combined integration of all agencies, have put themselves on a war-footing against the general population. They hide behind and try to conceal what they are really doing by such things as their pseudo “war on terror,” “war on drugs” or their ultimate “war on class,” using such things as “public peace” or “offensive” or “provocative words” and hurt “feelings” that are so vague they are open to anyone’s interpretation and abuse. This situation is way beyond becoming a police state. You can already see the class warfare as defined and implemented by the attitude and class distinction as exemplified by Kevin Hoover’s opinionated reporting as defined by his comment, and the subsequent use and enforcement of discriminatory, and probably illegal laws. Its okay for one class of people to insult, abuse, incite and threaten, but just let their victims try respond in the only way they know how to try to defend themselves and the full weight of the “law” and the police enforcement comes down on their heads. And then there is the third standout, and that’s the general paranoia associated with an illegitimate war. How would you like to be a deer hunter that just wanders into close proximity with one of these “overly cautious” squads skulking around the woods? As we can see, it doesn’t take long to start building cages and parking people in them without any hope of getting out. It’s all about justifying an illegitimate right to exist.

Joe Blow
Guest
13 years ago

Kym,

If you can go to this link to today’s expose on Democracy Now, you may get some insight into “why.” Next, go to today’s Times-Standards front-page article, “Marijuana grow operation shooting leaves one dead, …” and look at the picture of the six Sheriff’s Deputies. The caption in the newspaper says: “SWAT team members prepare to depart the Kneeland Airport to a large outdoor marijuana garden on Thursday. …” In the article it says, “…[A] heavily armed SWAT team, dressed in camouflage fatigues and full tactical gear …” Further along the article says, “…[N]early two dozen officers clad in camouflage, wearing bulletproof vest and toting automatic weapons, …” This comment was of interest, “Downy (Undersheriff Mike Downey) said at the time that the team would approach the site with an abundance of caution because it was not clear if any other armed individuals were in the pot grow.”

Next, read my article, in The Joe Blow Report 2, “What Does This Mean” and also the associated comment by Kevin Hoover of the Arcata Eye that he made about my observations.  A couple of things standout here, at least they do for me. One is, why do we need para-military police with automatic weapons in our society? By the way, how many of those officers are military war veterans from Iraq or Afghanistan trained as “hunter-killers”? Second, the policing authorities, the combined integration of all agencies, have put themselves on a war-footing against the general population. They hide behind and try to conceal what they are really doing by such things as their pseudo “war on terror,” “war on drugs” or their ultimate “war on class,” using such things as “public peace” or “offensive” or “provocative words” and hurt “feelings” that are so vague they are open to anyone’s interpretation and abuse. This situation is way beyond becoming a police state. You can already see the class warfare as defined and implemented by the attitude and class distinction as exemplified by Kevin Hoover’s opinionated reporting as defined by his comment, and the subsequent use and enforcement of discriminatory, and probably illegal laws. Its okay for one class of people to insult, abuse, incite and threaten, but just let their victims try respond in the only way they know how to try to defend themselves and the full weight of the “law” and the police enforcement comes down on their heads. And then there is the third standout, and that’s the general paranoia associated with an illegitimate war. How would you like to be a deer hunter that just wanders into close proximity with one of these “overly cautious” squads skulking around the woods? As we can see, it doesn’t take long to start building cages and parking people in them without any hope of getting out. It’s all about justifying an illegitimate right to exist.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

I am concerned about the level of violence in this last summer. And I think your point about the deer hunters is worrisome. Growers, Officers, and hunters–armed and knowing that the others are armed seems like a recipe for more deaths.

Staff
Member
13 years ago

I am concerned about the level of violence in this last summer. And I think your point about the deer hunters is worrisome. Growers, Officers, and hunters–armed and knowing that the others are armed seems like a recipe for more deaths.