A weed farmer in California recently filed a lawsuit against the a local sheriff’s office alleging that they conducted an illegal raid of his farm and then threw a pizza party to celebrate.

Earlier this week, Preston McCormick filed a lawsuit against the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office in California, alleging that several officers executed an “unlawful and illicit” raid at his cannabis farm, East Wind AG, and then celebrated the raid while remaining on his farm.

“Astonishingly, and at the conclusion of all this wholesale destruction and devastation at the hands of RCSD’s officers and others directed and controlled by same, all as briefly described herein and above, Defendants proceeded to celebrate the terrible results of their unlawful acts by ordering for delivery to, and then consuming, various pizza and other food and drinks, all while still remaining at and on the Property (the “Pizza Party”),” the lawsuit, which was reviewed by Newsweek, said.

The lawsuit added that 75 boxes of pizza were found at McCormick’s farm following the raid by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

  • Kid_Thunder@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    More rage bait:

    • built it on land belonging to the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian Tribe
    • tribal land and the tribe created a Cannabis Control Commission
    • However, the sheriff’s office was informed by members of the tribe that they were not authorized to conduct the raid on their land. In turn, members of the sheriff’s office said the tribal members “didn’t know what they were talking about,” the lawsuit said.
    • during the raid and officers confiscated $300,000 from the tribe’s safe.
    • McCormick’s "family home ‘mysteriously’ caught fire, after the sheriff’s office ordered power and water to his property to be turned off, resulting in the home “being completely burned down,” along with much of his personal belongings.
  • FoundTheVegan@kbin.social
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    11 months ago

    In November 2022, McCormick noticed a news report detailing an “unauthorized and unlicensed cannabis farm, located on unincorporated land,” that was raided by members of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. McCormick then met with members of the sheriff’s office to provide paperwork showing the legality of his cannabis farm.

    At around 4:30 a.m. local time on December 7, McCormick was woken up by members of the sheriff’s office as they began their raid.

    Fuck! He proactively went to show his legal status and all that did was put himself on their radar.

    However, the sheriff’s office was informed by members of the tribe that they were not authorized to conduct the raid on their land. In turn, members of the sheriff’s office said the tribal members “didn’t know what they were talking about,” the lawsuit said.

    Much of McCormick’s property and cannabis plants were destroyed during the raid and officers confiscated $300,000 from the tribe’s safe.

    Outright theft. They had no jurisdiction and didn’t care that they didn’t.

    Additionally, the lawsuit said that on January 8, 2023, McCormick’s "family home ‘mysteriously’ caught fire, after the sheriff’s office ordered power and water to his property to be turned off, resulting in the home “being completely burned down,” along with much of his personal belongings.

    Why would the water be shut off?! Goddamnit. Every part of this article is infuriating, nothing about this was law enforcement, just armed thugs raiding locals for fun and profit.

    • OneOrTheOtherDontAskMe@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Oh Jesus christ they didn’t even put the worst parts anywhere near the title. They didn’t just have a pizza party, they celebrated the destruction of a man’s property on land they weren’t allowed to police on, LEFT THE BOXES, and then engaged in a little bit of freelance arsonry (or aided arsonry). Fuck me

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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    11 months ago

    The lawsuit added that 75 boxes of pizza were found at McCormick’s farm following the raid by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.

    Hmm…

    Much of McCormick’s property and cannabis plants were destroyed during the raid

    I can guess how they “destroyed” it if they got 75 boxes of pizza afterward.

    • givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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      11 months ago

      Not even joking, but they often burn it in a fire they all stand around.

      Which obviously gets them high and gives them an excuse if they’re tested, so I’m sure they actually smoke some too.

      But burning pounds of it explains how they got high enough to not only order 75 pizzas, but leave all the boxes there and then drive away after.

      If a single one was sober they’d have realized they at least needed to dispose of the boxes to hide evidence