Home search yields stash of marijuana

Authorities cut down a purported major marijuana dealer Wednesday evening in southwest Porterville.

Officers from the Interagency Narcotic Enforcement Team arrested Lucas Santiago Beltran Dominguez, 35, of Porterville, after a search of his residence reportedly netted 10 pounds of processed marijuana and a large amount of cash.

Tulare County narcotics investigators continued to scour the home in the 100 block of West Forest Avenue for evidence at the time of publication. “It was a lot of marijuana,” Tulare County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Ron Castaneda said.

The search was the culmination of a three-month investigation into Dominguez, Castaneda said.

Narcotics investigators served the “hard knock” search warrant at around 5:30 p.m. What several witnesses reported to The Recorder sounded like a bomb exploding was actually officers bursting in the door, Castaneda said.

Shortly thereafter, officers reportedly found the bricks of marijuana in plastic bags inside of a drink cooler.

The drugs have an estimated value of $40,000, SheriffÂ’s Department Sgt. Chris Jennings said.

Castaneda said family members who were seen sitting in the living room of the modest suburban home would be questioned after the search of the home was complete.

“This investigation will likely continue for a while,” Jennings said.

Contact Aaron Burgin at 784-5000, Ext. 1046, or aburgin@portervillerecorder.com.