On October 31, 2026, Shasta County sheriff’s deputies on patrol in Happy Valley detected a suspected indoor marijuana grow on the 18000 block of Olinda Road and forwarded the information to the Marijuana Eradication Team with the Shasta County Interagency Narcotics Task Force.[1] Marijuana Eradication Team detectives followed up and obtained a search warrant for the suspected unlawful indoor cultivation.[1] On the morning of November 2, 2026, detectives serving the Olinda Road warrant chased a man who fled into a wooded area and arrested him after a short foot chase.[1] The arrested man was identified as 62-year-old Zhao Lianwei of Redding.[1]
Inside a detached shop on the Olinda Road property, detectives found a sophisticated indoor marijuana grow with 449 growing plants and 325 pounds (about 147.4 kg) of processed marijuana.[1] Lianwei was booked into Shasta County Jail for unlawful cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, and resisting or obstructing a peace officer.[1]
While processing the scene, detectives linked Lianwei to a second address on the 19000 block of Tunnel Road in the Mountain Gate area and obtained a second search warrant for a suspected unlawful indoor grow there.[1] On the afternoon of November 2, detectives executed the second warrant and found another indoor grow with 339 growing plants.[1] Detectives said additional charges will be requested against Lianwei for the second grow.[1] The sheriff’s office said it remains committed to eradicating unlawful, unpermitted marijuana grow operations.[1]