Copperopolis, CA…On 8/28/2019, the Calaveras Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Unit served a search warrant for illegal marijuana cultivation on a location in the 3000 block of Wagonwheel Drive in Copperopolis. During the investigation, Deputies located 615 growing marijuana plants growing in areas surrounding the house. Additionally, Deputies discovered a dog, a cat, and over 150 chickens housed in small pens which included approximately 100 large roosters. Numerous dead chickens were found in the pens with live chickens.

Calaveras County Code Compliance was contacted due to the unsafe electrical and living conditions, while Calaveras County Animal Services was contacted in regards to the chickens.

The residence and other structures were red tagged as uninhabitable by Code Compliance. Due to the absence of anybody to provide care for the chickens as well as the conditions in which they were kept, the chickens, dog, and cat were collected by Animal Services and are currently being cared for.

No persons were located on site, however numerous items of evidence were collected from the scene. The investigation regarding animal cruelty and illegal cultivation of marijuana is continuing.