SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - A South Lake Tahoe couple faces multiple felony charges after drug enforcement officers raided their Los Angeles Avenue home Tuesday, authorities said.
A search warrant was issued for the home of Miles and Elizabeth Hallen. Inside the home, drug agents seized 33.5 pounds of marijuana, said Jeff Catchings, task force commander for the South Lake El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team. Agents also discovered a small marijuana-growing operation inside the home, Catchings added.
The narcotics team had been working on the case for about five months. The bulk of the discovered pot allegedly came from an outdoor growing operation in Ukiah, Calif., he said.
According to Catchings, Miles Hallen had driven to Ukiah, allegedly picked up the marijuana there and transported it back to South Lake Tahoe.
The couple were arrested on suspicion of a felony count of possession for sale, along with one count of suspicion of felony transportation and suspicion of felony child endangerment.
During the raid, authorities called child protective services to take custody of the couple's two young children, Catchings said.
The couple made their bail, set at $10,000, and await a court date for a preliminary hearing.
The Hallens each had county-issued medical marijuana cards that allow growing up to 10 marijuana plants for medicinal purposes, Catchings said. But there was evidence of sales for the processed marijuana, which resulted in the felony charges.
Catchings said that in the past year, the drug agency has seen a number of growing operations in the South Lake Tahoe area, many of which are out of compliance with county and state laws.