A second Auburn resident has been charged in a suspected illegal marijuana grow in Lewis County, which law enforcement learned about after one of the suspects allegedly dropped off unwanted marijuana root balls and growing materials at the Lewis County Transfer Station in Centralia.
Shaomei Zhao, 33, of Auburn, made their first appearance in response to a summons Wednesday on charges of manufacturing marijuana, maintaining premises or vehicle for using controlled substances, and possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture or deliver.
Zhao entered a not-guilty plea, was granted unsecured bail and allowed to remain out of custody. The next court appearance in the case is scheduled for Feb. 27.
According to court documents, on Nov. 26, 2019, detectives received a report from employees at the Lewis County solid waste transfer station that a man in a minivan dropped off eight heavy-duty garbage bags, which he found odd. The employee reportedly opened one of the bags and found what he believed to be marijuana.
The bags were turned over to detectives, along with security video of the man.
On Dec. 2, the same employees reported to detectives that the suspect, later identified as Chaojian Zhao, 30, of Auburn was back dropping off bags including “vegetable root matter balls” identified by detectives as being from marijuana plants. He also reportedly dumped a kerosene forced-air heater and “ecology blocks,” used to grow the plants, according to court documents.
Chaojian Zhao was charged in early December in Lewis County Superior Court with manufacture of marijuana, maintaining a premises for using controlled substances and possession of marijuana with intent to manufacture.
He was also granted unsecured bail, allowing him to remain out of custody pending the resolution of the case.
Detectives followed Chaoijian Zhao from the transfer station to a home in the 100 block of Holcomb Road in Lewis County. There he reportedly traded the minivan for a BMW and drove away. Detectives stopped the suspect, who said he dropped off the bags at the transfer station for a friend.
A search warrant reportedly yielded 595 marijuana plants and 678 grams of dried marijuana bud, according to court documents. The house was reportedly used primarily for the grow operation, while Chaojian Zhao lived in Auburn.
Later, detectives identified Shaomei Zhao as the owner of the Holcomb Road residence, which reportedly appeared to the officers to be used primarily to grow marijuana.
