On June 10, 2020, at about 8:45 pm, deputies with the Kern County Sheriff’s Office Metro Patrol Division were dispatched to the 3600 block of Gilmore Avenue, in Bakersfield, regarding a brandishing a weapon investigation.
During the investigation, deputies located a large, illegal indoor cannabis grow inside of an industrial building. The Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit responded to assist with the investigation. A search warrant was executed at the building and investigators located the following items of evidence:
-2,941 cannabis plants.
-Approximately 85lbs of processed cannabis with an estimated wholesale value of $127,500.00.
-Two AR-15 rifles (not CA compliant) with high capacity magazines, a shotgun, a .22 caliber rifle with a high capacity magazine, and two handguns.
-A small amount of concentrated cannabis, cocaine, and heroin.
-Equipment for an illegal concentrated cannabis chemical extraction lab.
-$8,120.00 in currency.
Investigators also discovered harmful chemicals were being drained into the sewer system from the grow site.
John Blackwell (31) of Bakersfield was arrested for several illegal drug violations, being in possession of illegal drugs while armed, possession of illegal weapons, environmental crimes, and brandishing a firearm. Blackwell was booked into the Sheriff’s Office Jail pending court proceedings.
