By TIFFANY REVELLE The Daily Journal
Updated: 05/07/2011 12:00:05 AM PDT

In an incident that foreshadows a push coming this summer to reclaim national forest land from illegal marijuana growers, authorities arrested a man Thursday morning near the Lake-Mendocino County border who is believed to be involved in an illegal marijuana grow on public land off Highway 175.

The man, identified as Malaquias Parras Ramirez, 41, of Santa Rosa, was arrested on suspicion of cultivating marijuana, transporting marijuana and possessing a loaded firearm in public. He is held at the Lake County Jail without bail under an immigration hold, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Office,

The LCSO announced its intention to seek federal prosecution for Ramirez, which could result in a sentence of 10 years in federal prison if he is convicted.

Capt. James Bauman of the LCSO said the incident wasn't part of the multi-agency, six-county operation expected to be launched this summer, known as "Full Court Press."

"This is a good example of how Full Court Press is going to work," Bauman said.

A LCSO detective sergeant with the office's Narcotics Task Force was headed west on Highway 175 when he spotted a black Toyota Camry pulled over by the side of the road with two men inside dressed in camouflage. A third man in camouflage was urinating nearby, according to the LCSO.

When the detective stopped to talk to the men, the man outside the car ran into the brush. The detective drew his duty weapon and ordered the two men in the car to raise their hands, but

the driver got out and ran into the brush after the other man.
The third man in the back of the car, Ramirez, was held at gunpoint while the detective radioed for help.

Several LCSO units and the California Highway Patrol responded, and deputies positioned themselves along the highway in an effort to contain the two outstanding suspects.

A search of the Toyota revealed several potted marijuana plants and a loaded handgun drawn from its holster, lying on the floorboard where Ramirez was sitting, the LCSO stated.

A team including a U.S. Forest Service K-9 and the Bureau of Land Management began combing the mountainous area where the two men ran. The USFS dog led them into a large gorge, where they saw a suspected "drop site" where the alleged marijuana growers left several spools of drip line, bags of fittings, fertilizer and other growing supplies, the LCSO stated.

The team followed fresh tracks beyond the drop site but the dog lost the scent and trail after about a mile, the LCSO stated.

At about 10:30 a.m., a CHP helicopter from Redding arrived to help in the search, which continued until about noon. The team had tracked the men into terrain so rugged that they had to be extricated by the CHP helicopter, according to the LCSO.

"It is believed that Ramirez and the other two suspects were interrupted by the detective sergeant while they were engaged in setting up a major illegal marijuana cultivation operation," the LCSO stated. "Much of the mountainous area surrounding Highway 175 that is managed by the BLM has been host to such operations in past years."

The investigation continues.

Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman, who spearheaded Full Court Press, said he can't discuss strategies, tactics or specific dates of the planned operation.

"We're right on track with our planning," he said. "We're currently making sure all deputies have updated training in rural patrol tactics," including "doing the job in the woods."

While the priority remains public safety, the operation's focus will be on arresting people who are growing marijuana illegally on public land, Allman said.

"If we don't make a good attempt at making arrests, we're not solving the problem; we're just putting it off another year," he said.

Tiffany Revelle can be reached at udjtr@pacific.net, or at 468-3523.

http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_18015117