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File Number: 12 -296 increase is the power being stolen to illegally cultivate marijuana. Indoor marijuana grows also destroy properties in our communities. Marijuana grows cause hazardous mold to spread in rooms used for cultivating, destroy interior carpet, and cause major electrical problems to homes. These homes are often eyesores in our community due to the neglect by illicit marijuana cultivators. Homes are not painted, lawns are not mowed, and trash often accumulates on these properties. It should be noted that the San Leandro Police Department complies with Proposition 215 and has investigated 10 marijuana grows where no enforcement action was taken because the subjects were in compliance. The City of San Leandro has seen significant acts of violence surrounding the cultivation and sale of marijuana. In 2011, a shooting occurred in the Walmart parking lot on Hesperian Blvd, where a victim was shot in the neck. At the scene, marijuana was recovered in the parking lot packaged for sale. It was later determined that the victim attempted to steal marijuana from the suspect (seller) who shot the victim after he tried to flee the area. This shooting occurred in a notoriously busy parking lot with many innocent people walking or driving in the lot to shop. On January 18, 2012, at approximately 9:22 pm, the San Leandro Police Department's Narcotics Unit conducted surveillance in the area of Aloha Drive looking for suspects involved in the illegal cultivation of marijuana. It should be noted that a week earlier the Unit conducted a search warrant on Carrillo Dr. and discovered an illegal marijuana grow. The subjects arrested at the house were believed to be involved in a gang and had several assault rifles in their possession. Detectives felt the same group may be involved in the Aloha investigation. During the surveillance on Aloha Drive, a San Leandro Narcotics Detective Sergeant observed a suspicious vehicle driving in the neighborhood. The Sergeant followed the vehicle from a distance in his undercover vehicle and lost sight of the suspect vehicle as it went around a bend in the road. As the Sergeant continued to follow, he noticed the suspect vehicle was now driving towards him. When the vehicle was approximately six feet away from the Sergeant's vehicle, the driver shot multiple rounds from a .45 caliber handgun at the Sergeant. As the Sergeant drove away, the suspect continued to fire multiple rounds which struck several parked cars in the neighborhood. Fortunately, the Sergeant was not hurt and no innocent citizens were struck by stray bullets. From the investigation, it is believed that the suspect knew that the Sergeant was a Police Officer before he attempted to murder him. It was determined that the suspect (who was later arrested) was involved in a gang which uses profits from the illegal cultivation of marijuana to help facilitate the gang's criminal activities. The illegal cultivation of marijuana has a severe impact on departmental resources and finances. On August 18, 2011, at approximately 3:17 pm, the San Leandro Police Communications Center received a 911 call stating that a male subject was being chased by two males with guns. The reporting party stated that all three subjects ran into a residence in the 2000 block of Fairbanks Street. As officers arrived on the scene, a perimeter was established around the residence. Multiple announcements were made by using a Public Address system to have the occupants exit the house. SLPD personnel also made numerous phone calls to the residence and received no response. The SLPD Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) and Hostage Negotiations Team (HNT) were called to the scene based on the fact that this was a possible hostage situation involving armed suspects. SWAT and HNT attempted to contact the occupants and met with negative results. SWAT officers entered the residence and did not locate anyone inside. Officers did locate a marijuana grow of approximately 240 plants and also located a pit -bull puppy that had to be taken to an City of San Leandro Page 5 Printed on 611212012