Fresno County Sheriff's deputies have wrapped up a marijuana bust involving two pot gardens surrounding a Sanger Unified school.
Agents removed 10,000 plants from one grow site and another 3,000 plants from a nearby field. It took place in the area of Jensen and Armstrong, which is where Sequoia Elementary School is located.
All day Tuesday Fresno County Sheriff's deputies hauled out loads of marijuana plants, 13,000 in all.
The largest garden sat directly across the street from Sequoia Elementary. The other grow was situated behind the school. Both were hidden between rows of vegetables. The sheriff's department was planning to conduct this bust later this month.
"But what upped the priority is the fact we had reported armed people out here last night," said Deputy Chris Curtice of the Fresno Co. Sheriff's Dept.
So in the best interest of student safety, deputies immediately launched the operation.
"I have to say I’m very pleased with the way they handled this today," said Matt Navo, Superintendent of Sanger Unified School District.
Sanger Superintendent, Matt Navo, was happy the sheriff's department coordinated the raid with him.
"We can't ask for more than communication and clear communication making sure we're ok, the kids are ok and these kinds of things are being addressed," said Navo.
Clifford Eastman says as a parent, this is unsettling.
"Because it's always associated with violence and guns. It's just really scary, but as long as they took care of it that's the bottom line. No one got hurt, no kids were threatened," said Clifford Eastman.
No weapons were seized, but deputies did detain a dozen people.
"No one was arrested, however all of their information was taken down and they were released," said Deputy Curtice.
Literally, tons of weed continues to pop up in Fresno County. 450 sites have been identified so far this year.
"It seems like we'll eradicate two or three and then we find 5 or 6 more. So it's like a cancer, it's just not going down, but we continue to plow along," said Deputy Curtice.