Man killed near Willits pot-growing operation

A Ukiah man was slain Friday night near a large marijuana growing operation near Willits, Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies said.

Deputies were dispatched to a home on Third Gate Road west of Brooktrails at 7:41 p.m. just as the victim, Mark Maples, 53 of Ukiah, was being taken to the hospital with his girlfriend in the back of a pickup truck.

Deputies met the pickup on Sherwood Road where emergency medical staff determined that Maples was dead.

The girlfriend, whose name was not released, told deputies that she had returned to the residence where she and Maples had been staying and found him injured, said Sheriff's Capt. Kurt Smallcomb. She then found help to drive him to the hospital.

Maples had injuries related to a physical beating, Smallcomb said. An autopsy will be performed on Monday morning, and more details will be released then, he said.

"There was a scuffle that took place at the scene, and the victim received the brunt of the physical assault," Smallcomb said. "Marijuana breeds violence in Mendocino County, unfortunately. Sometimes we have victims."

Deputies searched the Third Gate Road property and designated the area a crime scene. They found more than 1,000 marijuana plants growing on the property and believe, based on witness statements, that the assault was related to the marijuana, Smallcomb said. Nothing appeared to be stolen, he said.

"Right now we're just trying to identify the exact suspects," Smallcomb said. "We're working on some leads."

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriffs Office at 463-4086. Callers can remain anonymous.