Cops seize 616 plants in pot bust

Officers arrested three men in Sonoma County Wednesday on suspicion marijuana cultivation and possession of marijuana for sale.

Around 7:40 a.m. Wednesday, deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s office served several search warrants related to marijuana cultivation in the 18000 block of Sweetwater Springs Road near Guerneville, officials said.

Detectives seized around 616 marijuana plants that were being grown both indoors and outdoors, many over ten feet in height.

A nine millimeter handgun was also found and confiscated at one of the grow locations, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office.

Several suspects attempted to flee when deputies arrived at the grow locations, and refused to comply when they were confronted by deputies.

After a sheriff canine was deployed, one suspect suffered bite wounds and was treated at a local hospital.

Arrested was Amando Valente, 50, Jose Abarca-Caballero, 33, and Hugo Garcia-Arambula, 49, officials said.

Antonio Reyes-Rosales, 36, was not arrested due to his admittance to the hospital after suffering bite wounds.

Charges against him will be sought through the District Attorney’s Office.

The suspects were booked into the Sonoma County Jail with bail set at $20,000 each.