Pinoleville Pomo Nation files claim against Mendocino County for pot raid

The Pinoleville Pomo Nation has filed a claim against Mendocino County authorities for raiding a high-profile medical marijuana operation on the tribe’s rancheria north of Ukiah last year.

The tribe’s claim is on the Board of Supervisors’ agenda for Monday. Such claims are routinely denied, but must be filed before plaintiffs can sue a government agency.

The tribe last year had launched what was believed to be one of the first large-scale, tribe-operated medical pot operations in the state. It claimed it had a right to grow marijuana on the tribe’s 99-acre rancheria for the benefit of the estimated 250-member tribe.

But Mendocino County sheriff’s officials viewed the 400-plant garden and an alleged honey oil laboratory - where sheriff’s officials said they found 100 pounds of trimmed and drying marijuana - as illegal, and in September raided the operations, removing the plants and chemicals. Their investigation into the operation is continuing.

The tribe’s claim states it suffered damages of more than $10,000 for the loss of the plants and infrastructure. It also claims unreasonable search and seizure, trespass and due process violations.