Crime & Safety

Pot Plants, Starving Puppy Found Instead of Suspects

San Leandro Police were looking for two suspects in response to a report of gunshots. But all they found was a lot of marijuana growing and malnourished pit bull puppy.

Bay City News — San Leandro police who responded to a report that two men with guns were chasing another man didn't find anyone but instead recovered about 240 marijuana plants at a nearby house, police said today.

Police received a 911 call at 3:17 p.m. Thursday reporting that the two alleged suspects and the alleged victim had all run into a house in the 2000 block of Fairbanks Street, Lt. Jeff Tudor said.

Officers responded to the scene and established a perimeter around the residence, Tudor said.

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Police used a public address system to make multiple announcements to have the occupants exit the residence and also made numerous phone calls to the residence but received no response, Tudor said. 

The department's SWAT and hostage negotiations teams were called to the scene based on the officers' belief that it was a possible hostage situation involving armed suspects, Tudor said.

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The SWAT and hostage negotiation teams tried to contact the occupants but also didn't get a response, he said.

SWAT officers then entered the home and didn't find anyone inside, according to Tudor.

However, he said officers found a marijuana grow of about 240 plants and also located a pit bull puppy that had to be taken to an emergency pet clinic because it was malnourished and appeared to be in distress.

Tudor said no victims have come forward so far. He said detectives are still investigating the case and are trying to establish if any other crimes occurred.

"Where there are drugs there is crime," he said. "We are still trying to establish if this was a drug deal gone bad or home invasion robbery."


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