Marijuana Distribution Operation Found By Santa Rosa Firefighters Responding To Garage Blaze
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) -- The Santa Rosa Fire Department found evidence of marijuana production during a garage fire Friday morning, a police sergeant said.
The Fire Department responded at 7:25 a.m. to a report of an explosion and fire in a garage of a residence at 4012 Shadowhill Drive in east Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Rich Celli said.
The explosion caused the front wall of the house to detach from the garage foundation, shattered windows and sent glass into a neighbor's fence, Celli said.
Michael Weckerle, 51, and Rochelle Wattz, 45, who were in the residence, suffered smoke inhalation while trying to put out the fire, but a juvenile girl was not injured, Celli said.
Police narcotics officers responded and detectives served a search warrant after firefighters said there was evidence of marijuana possession in the garage, Celli said.
Detectives found 19 pounds of partially processed marijuana and packaging and sales evidence indicating the marijuana was being processed for distribution, Celli said.
Detectives and fire investigators determined neither a natural gas line nor a visible heat source caused the fire, and they believe the source of the blaze was removed from the garage before firefighters arrived, Celli said.
Neither Weckerle not Wattz would speak to the detectives about the source of the fire or the partially processed marijuana, Celli said. The source of the fire is unknown and suspicious, and police cannot determine if there was a honey oil lab in garage, Celli said.
Detectives are looking for witnesses, and the results of their investigation will be sent to the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office for possible prosecution, Celli said.
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