2 arrested following Cotati hash oil raid

Cotati police arrested two men suspected of making hash oil at a city business park officers raided earlier this month.

Joel Walley, 37, of Hopland was arrested Wednesday at his home, Lt. Bill French said.

Cotati police had obtained a warrant to search his home on Highway 175, where on Wednesday morning they found 81 mature marijuana plants and about 10 pounds of dried pot, French said. The lieutenant estimated the value of the marijuana to be at least $100,000. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control assisted.

Police arrested his suspected partner Joseph Gallagher, 34, of Sebastopol on Sept. 10 as Gallagher left his residence, French said.

Gallagher and Walley are suspected of making hash oil at a two-story business suite behind a roll-up door on Aaron Street, police said.

Acting on a tip from Rohnert Park police, Cotati officers raided the suite on Sept. 5 and found two rooms constructed to make hash oil, a cannabis derivative.

Police seized a large carbon dioxide extractor used to strip the leaves of THC.

Gallagher was booked into the Sonoma County Jail Sept. 10 on suspicion of manufacturing drugs and possession of marijuana for sale, French said. He posted bond and was released that day.

Walley was booked into the Mendocino County Jail Wednesday on $500,000 bail on suspicion of manufacturing drugs, conspiracy, possession of marijuana for sale and marijuana cultivation, French said.

You can reach Staff Writer ?Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or ?julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. ?On Twitter @jjpressdem.