Multiple Fairfield agencies including the Police Special Operations Team, Fire, Building and Code Enforcement Departments, discovered safety violations that led to a building getting red-tagged as too dangerous for habitation.
Friday, March 11, 2022, around 7:15 a.m. officers were dispatched to the 200 block of Bell Ave. regarding a suspicious incident and possible burglary. Officers arrived and observed major damage to a rollup garage door and the front door ajar. During a search of the commercial building, police discovered multiple rooms filled with more than 900 marijuana plants, grows lights, illegal and exposed electrical wiring, modified plumbing, ventilation systems, and unknown chemicals. No one was located inside the building.
Early Saturday morning, March 12, 2022, officers were dispatch to the 3000 block of Dover Ave. regarding a report of a residential burglary in progress with gunfire being exchanged. Officers arrived and found the front door pried open, broken glass, and the door riddled with bullet holes. During the investigation officers discovered an illegal indoor grow with more than 600 marijuana plants, firearms, CO2 tanks, grows lights, , illegal and exposed electrical wiring, ventilation systems, unknown chemicals.
Fairfield Municipal Code Section 25.32.17 currently regulates the cultivation of cannabis in a private residence. February 2022 the City amend Fairfield Municipal Code Section 25.32.17 to impose an administrative penalty for indoor cultivation of cannabis in violation of Municipal Code Section 25.32.17. A violation of this regulation is subject to increased administrative penalties in recognition of the high value of cannabis plants, which can be several thousands of dollars each, and the desired punitive effect required to deter future violations.
The regulations in Section 25.32.17 do not interfere with any person's right to obtain and use cannabis as authorized under state law, nor do they criminalize the possession of cannabis. It is neither the intent nor the effect of this municipal code to condone or legitimize the illegal use, consumption, or cultivation of cannabis under federal, state, or local law.
Indoor cultivation of marijuana, often unattended, has potential to cause harm to persons and property in that the use of high wattage grow lights and excessive use of electricity increases the risk of fire which presents a distinct risk of harm to the building and its occupants. Buildings where marijuana is cultivated are often illegally wired and have overloaded electrical systems that result in fires.
Unregulated cultivation of a large number of cannabis plants on any property substantially increases the risk of violent criminal activity. The 3000 block of Dover Ave. is a prime example, as the suspects exchanged gunfire indiscriminately through the front door with no regards to our community’s safety.
The immediate imposition of daily fines per plant at an illegal cannabis cultivation site is necessary because such activity poses unique and immediate risks to public health and safety and to the natural environment. Unlawful cannabis cultivation is also potentially lucrative enough to incentivize unlawful activity at cannabis cultivation sites for as long as possible pending harvest. Cannabis cultivation also creates increased nuisance impacts to neighboring properties because the hazardous wastes and solvents used in illegal cultivation while compromising the health and safety of nearby residents.
