Sheriff’s detectives arrest four, find large marijuana gardens near Guerneville

Hundreds of marijuana plants, some more than 10 feet tall, were confiscated Wednesday morning from rural property in the rugged hills above Guerneville, a Sonoma County sheriff’s lieutenant said.

About 20 detectives and deputies arrived at the Sweetwater Springs Road property early in the morning and found four people who took off running. They were caught and arrested on suspicion of marijuana-related charges, Lt. Carlos Basurto said.

A sheriff’s dog set out after the men and bit one of them. The man was treated at a hospital.

It was the second raid on the mountainous road in about a week.

Last week sheriff’s deputies and detectives conducted searches on multiple properties on Sweetwater Springs Road as well as in Santa Rosa.

This week’s effort on Sweetwater Springs was on one large property in the 18000 block, with multiple grow sites including indoor and outdoor gardens, Basurto said.

The road winds and curves and climbs, connecting Guerneville to the west and Healdsburg to the east, and is dotted with large ranches and properties owned by some families going back generations.

Last week’s effort was closer to the Healdsburg side and involved 3,645 plants found in several gardens within two miles of each other.

Wednesday’s search was closer to the Guerneville side. The property involved had multiple residences and outbuildings, Basurto said.