Wildlife Officials Warn Of Illegal Pot Grows In Parks After Suspect Shot Dead Near Elk Grove
SACRAMENTO COUNTY (CBS13) — A suspected pot grower is dead after a state game warden says he was forced to fire in the Stones Lake Wildlife Refuge.
Investigators say they had evidence suggesting the suspect was growing marijuana in the area just outside of Elk Grove. It's an area that's becoming a hotspot for marijuana grows.
For the past 40 years, Tim Fitzer has spent his spare time bird watching. His hobby often brings him to quiet outdoor areas like the refuge where the shooting happened.
"I mean it surprises you to think that you're even going to run into something like this and that it is happening, especially around the Sacramento area," he said.
But Tim says he ran into it himself recently while watching birds. He instead caught sight of some growers in El Dorado County.
"I looked with my binoculars and I thought you know this could be something illegal going on and I backed away, took off," he said.
He says deputies confirmed his suspicions were right. As for today's incident, authorities say it's a reminder of how dangerous these situations can be.
"This person was confronting armed police officers shouting commands at him, and didn't back down," said Fish and Wildlife Capt. Patrick Foy. "If that was an unarmed birdwatcher or hiker, the outcome could have been much worse."
He says growers should be considered armed and dangerous, with many linked to drug cartels. He says grows like these may be popping up because streams and creeks in more remote areas could be drying up due to the drought.
"What we recommend is for people just to stay on the trails, hike together, bird watch with binoculars from a distance," Foy said.