Sheriff's Rural Crime Deputy Arrests 3 Marijuana Grow Suspects

Thousands of Plants Eradicated in San Luis Obispo County

Santa Maria - August 9th, 2010

A joint operation between the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office and the San Luis Obispo Sheriff’s Office has landed three marijuana grow suspects in jail and led to the eradication of thousand of plants; the events were set in motion due to an alert Rural Crimes Deputy on patrol east of Santa Maria Sunday night.

At approximately 9pm on Sunday, August 8, 2010, a Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Rural Crimes Deputy was on patrol when he noticed a suspicious vehicle parked alongside the 4000-block of Foxen Canyon Road.  Upon further inspection, the Deputy observed two men standing next to the rear of the vehicle with the trunk open and a large military style duffel bag on the ground. Suspecting they may be part of illicit marijuana grow operation, the Deputy contacted the two subjects before discovering a third man inside the vehicle.

All three were ordered to the ground pending backup. A subsequent search revealed two duffel bags full of freshly purchased food supplies, along with equipment and supplies typically found in marijuana grow operations. Santa Barbara Narcotics Detectives were summoned to assist in the case.

Further investigation led Narcotics Detectives to significant sized marijuana grow nearby, but over the San Luis Obispo County line. The SLO Sheriff’s Office immediately put together a team to eradicate the marijuana garden. By late afternoon on Monday, August 9, 2010 Sheriff’s personnel had eradicated more than 5,400 plants.

Nazario Ramos-Torres (DOB 1/15/59) and Saul Sandoval Torres (DOB 12/10/81) were booked into the Santa Barbara County Jail for Felony 11358 H&S (Cultivating Marijuana) and Felony 182 PC (Criminal Conspiracy). Their bail is set at $50,000.  Humberto Trejo Ceja (DOB 3/25/80) was also booked into the SB County Jail and is being held on a no bail immigration hold.

Booking photos are not being released at this time, but will be distributed when they become available.

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