Barricaded Door Bashed and 1500+ Pot Plants Nabbed

Brian Patrick Zimmerman age 27

Jeremiah Cody Funk age 30

Humboldt Co. Drug Task Force Press Release:

On 09-19-2012 at about 0900 hours the Humboldt County Drug Task Force assisted by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant at 40 acre parcel of property located off Fickle Hill Road near Butter Valley Road, Kneeland.

Officers located a large scale commercial marijuana growing operation on the property. Officers detained 6 subjects on the property when the search warrant was served. When Officers arrived on the property one of the subjects later identified as Brain Patrick Zimmerman age 27 locked the front door to his residence and barricaded himself inside and refused to open the door to the residence. Officers had to forcible break down the front door to gain access to the residence. Zimmerman was then detained and placed into handcuffs without further resistance.

Officers then searched the property and structures. Officers seized a total of 1,532 growing marijuana plants from the parcel. The marijuana plants ranged in size from 4 inches to over 10 feet in height. The marijuana plants were being cultivated indoors in the residence using 1000 watt grow lights, inside greenhouses structures and in outdoor marijuana gardens located on the property.

Officers located a rifle and a pistol inside of Zimmerman’s residence along with $ 3,457 dollars that was seized for possible asset forfeiture. Zimmerman was arrested for resisting arrest, being armed in commission of a felony, cultivation and possession for sales of marijuana.

Zimmerman was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and his bail was set at $25,000 dollars.

A second subject who was identified as Jeremiah Cody Funk age 30 was located on the property. Funk was located on the parcel where he was cultivating 199 outdoor marijuana plants that ranged in size about 6 feet tall in height. Funk was in possession of a pistol and a rifle. Funk was arrested for being armed in commission of a firearm, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, cultivation and possession for sales of marijuana and for violation of probation. Funk was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where his bail was set at $ 50,000 dollars.

Officers noticed a possible water diversion issue on the property and California Department of Fish and Game was contacted and responded to the scene. Humboldt County Environmental Health were contacted and responded to the scene, because of possible ground contamination of used motor oil.

Officers noticed a possible fire hazard with the electrical wiring from the indoor marijuana growing operation in the residence. Officers then contacted Humboldt County Building and Planning Department who responded to the scene. After inspecting the electrical wiring, Humboldt County Building and Planning Department determined that there was a fire hazard.

PG&E was then contacted to have the electrical service turned off to the residence. The other four subjects on the property were released after interviews and were determined not to be involved in the cultivation of the marijuana.

This case is still under investigation by the Humboldt County Drug Task Force.

Mike Downey, Sheriff