South Monterey County sheriff's deputies ended up in a very different place than where started Saturday.
The starting point: an investigation by California Department of Fish and Wildlife officials into alleged illegal trash dumping on Cross County Road.
The ending point: arresting 34-year-old Douglas King for allegedly operating an illegal marijuana growing operation and stealing electricity from Pacific Gas & Electric.
A DFW officer investigating the trash dumping first uncovered a PG&E bill with an address on Hidden Creek Road in the small unincorporated South County community of San Miguel.
That led him to King's home, where he saw about 100 cannabis plants in the backyard. King also has an expired medical cannabis user's card, according to the Monterey County sheriff's office.
A subsequent search of the property by sheriff's deputies revealed 1,502 marijuana plants ranging in size from 4 inches to feet tall, according to the sheriff's office. Deputies say they also discovered nearly 7 pounds of processed marijuana, and manufacturing equipment to make butane honey oil, or hash oil.
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