Crime

Calif. Councilman Gunned Down After Finding Secret Opium Farm

Calif. Councilman Gunned Down After Finding Secret Opium Farm

FORT BRAGG, Calif. (The Blaze/AP) — A suspect in the killing of a Northern California city councilman had been tending opium poppy plants while living for months in the woods, authorities said, as they released additional details about the shooting.

Aaron Bassler, 35, the suspect in Fort Bragg, Calif., City Councilman Jere Melo’s death on Saturday, was the sole tender of about 100 opium poppies, Mendocino County sheriff’s officials told the Press Democrat of Santa Rosa on Monday.

Poppy growing is uncommon in the rugged area outside Fort Bragg where Melo was killed, though it has been the site of illegal marijuana farms in the past, Sheriff’s Capt. Kurt Smallcomb said.

Melo, a forest land manager, was with a friend looking for illegal marijuana farms when he was shot, authorities have said. Bassler remains at large.

Smallcomb told the Press Democrat that Melo was unarmed when he was shot several times in the torso by a high-caliber rifle. The shooter was on higher ground.

“He definitely never went out armed in all the years I knew him,” Smallcomb said of Melo, whom he had known for about 25 years. “He wasn’t looking to be violent toward anybody. He could talk his way out of anything if given the opportunity.”

Melo’s friend had a weapon and returned fire before escaping aboard a train on tracks a few hundred yards away, Smallcomb said. The tracks are used by a company that provides train tours of the surrounding redwood forest.

Authorities searched the forest on Monday for Bassler, who they say has a history of run-ins with the law.

Smallcomb said the search was slow because of the rugged terrain. He urged anyone who spotted Bassler not to approach him and contact authorities instead.

The New York Daily News adds:

On Sunday, police said they were using SWAT teams to hunt for Aaron Bassler, a local drifter with a history of run-ins with the law.

It wasn’t clear what kind of drugs Bassler was allegedly growing in the area. Some reports said it was marijuana, while others said it was opium poppy.

Turner said Bassler, who is in his 30s, “has had some skirmishes with police over the years,” including a collar earlier this year for crashing a truck into a school’s tennis courts.

In 2009, he was arrested for sparking bomb fears by ditching packages at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The packages contained drawings of red stars and ramblings about alien armies and Chinese weapons, the paper reported.

Calif. Councilman Gunned Down After Finding Secret Opium Farm

Comments (63)

  • V-MAN MACE
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:26pm

    Well, the military helps the Taliban grow and distribute opium from poppies, so why can’t this dude grow it in the woods…

    Report Post » V-MAN MACE  
  • outbagst
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 5:03pm

    Jere had been marking crops with gps and reporting them to the sheriff for years, some growers said he marked their site and took their camping gear and a pistol. The sheriff never showed up so they went to Jere’s house and got it back.

    Report Post »  
  • JustinHale
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 4:23pm

    O.K. to all you people out there that think Fort Bragg is uber liberal. How come I can drive down the street and see more trucks with lifts and 38 inch tires than I see hybrids? Jere was a member of Ducks Unlimited and was the driving force to build the high school stadium…

    Report Post »  
  • AR_OR_AK
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:42pm

    Did I miss the part where they know it was him? It said it was a rifle shot from higher up. Did the guy sign his bullets?

    Report Post »  
  • NO YOU CANT
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:26pm

    Wow, none has blamed a Tea Party terrorist yet.
    Give it time, I have faith in my fellow man.

    Report Post » NO YOU CANT  
    • tharpdevenport
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 3:21pm

      Or called him a “right-wing” extremist. That’s also CNN-pending.

      Report Post » tharpdevenport  
    • JustinHale
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 4:03pm

      Not a Tea Party member, he was a dope fiend…

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 5:05pm

      I’m pretty sure his MO is that of a Libertarian (big L).

      Report Post »  
  • Uechi
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:24pm

    “He definitely never went out armed in all the years I knew him” Just one of many good reasons why he is dead. You can’t fight evil or defend your life without tools namely firearms.

    Report Post »  
    • JustinHale
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 4:29pm

      Jere’s buddy put one is his chest but the guy had on body armour…

      Report Post »  
  • Bill Wallace
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:21pm

    Time to put him down.

    Report Post »  
  • Noonien_Soong
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:14am

    Did I miss something or was it a misdirection of LSMSM for reporting first that this was of someone who was tending to marijuana farm?

    Report Post » Noonien_Soong  
  • DanWesson455
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:05am

    On The Blaze there is another article about Capital Punishment. I waffled on a answer there. But now I say, YES Capital Punishment has it purpose. That purpose is this guy when he is caught and has a trial. In fact if he could be put to death twice I think that would be appropriate. DIP WAD!

    Report Post » DanWesson455  
  • TomFerrari
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:34am

    Personally, I’m intent on steering America to restore its status as a nation of morals.
    Then, we can eliminate silly laws that prohibit the growing of a natural plant.

    Marijuana is now ‘legal’ in California, but, ephedra is illegal – a Chinese herb used medicinally for thousands of years, successfully, until big pharma convinced congress to stand up against that evil ‘drug’ (ephedra). (oh, and it was killing their diet pill industry, too.) Personally, a family member who suffers from asthma has never found ANY prescription drug that worked as well as ephedra in alleviating asthma symptoms. But, now it is ILLEGAL in the U.S.

    What a MOCKERY we have made of our great blessing of FREEDOM and LIBERTY !

    .
    .
    .

    Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • Zorro6821
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 9:26am

      Why on earth would a someone look for Marijuana Crops knowing the dangers of being shot by growers or cartel growers. This makes no sense. Living in California, one knows the dangers of even hiking in the National Forest System let alone looking for illicit crops. The only safe hiking is in Disneyland. What a tragedy for this senseless crime. My hear goes out to his family.

      Report Post »  
    • rbyerly
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:56pm

      You are a child! Legalizing any controlled substance does not end the illicit trade. All that would have been done in decriminalizing would be to remove further tools to control the illicit trade. Decriminalizing didn’t stop bootlegging, people still run alcohol AND tobacco to avoid the taxes and keep the ill gotten gains off the books. I do think more needs to be done to educate people not to use controlled substances and stay off dope. We need to bring back Nancy’s campaign, “Just Say, No!”

      Report Post »  
    • JustinHale
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 4:06pm

      @rbyerly Pot is not a “controled substance”…

      Report Post »  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 5:09pm

      It’s mind altering and entry level, why isn’t it controlled??

      Report Post »  
    • JustinHale
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 5:16pm

      Controled substances are man made, i.e. Hash from pot…

      Report Post »  
  • progressiveslayer
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:17am

    After he’s convicted he should be on death row,but he‘ll be there for years because they don’t know how to get the job done,too many appeals costing taxpayers millions.

    Report Post » progressiveslayer  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:39am

      May God bring peace to the mans surviving family; and for his killer, if he tended an opium field then I have one idea for his fate — let him meet his ending via the drug he was trying to grow and sell.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Stoic one
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:08pm

      perhaps he can have a high powered Lead conversation with SWAT; and never go to trial.

      Report Post » Stoic one  
  • Darla_K
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:39am

    Sounds like this guy is dangerous and over the top. He needs to be taken out for others safety. Take a gun with you next time. It will lessen your chances of being shot. Prayers to the family.

    Report Post » Darla_K  
    • Jackers
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:00am

      Such a tragedy that so many of our national forests have been hijacked for the use of growing marijuana or, in this case, poppies…

      Report Post » Jackers  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:04am

    Thanks for the heads up, BLAZE. Good to know someone gets the news out.

    LORD, grant us courage, not arrogance. Grant us YOUR wisdom, not our own opinions. Grant us YOUR peace and confidence in YOU, not in our own actions. Help us, please, “be wise as serpents but gentle as doves”, watchful, vigilant, aware, alert and ready. In JESUS’ PRECIOUS NAME, amen!

    Report Post »  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:01am

    Justinhale- you seem to know all the details about this- Body armour- Not a Lib- throwing off privet property- is there more your not telling us?
    Question- why would he a councilman take it upon himself to enforce the law? Why did he not just call the police? A lot more here not told than is………..

    Report Post »  
    • chazman
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 7:42am

      … yeah, I was wondering the same. What was this ‘councilman’ really doing out there in the bush? Cops in helicopters are usually the ones looking for the dope, but this guy takes it upon himself to have a look around? And on foot? Well, that’s why he got shot. Dopers in the back country anywhere in the U.S. are screwed up people, and they will kill you. If they see you they think you are either a cop, or someone there to steal their dope. This man was stupid, God rest his soul.

      Report Post »  
    • Darla_K
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:00am

      I have heard that people are growing crops of weed in Northern CA and it is not just our people, Mexicans from across the border also. Consider these drug growers dangerous and please take a weapon with you when looking for these crops. Just sayin’….

      Report Post » Darla_K  
    • JustinHale
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 4:10pm

      Jere was a property manager for a timber co. He was in fact a forester, and was checking the property with a person that owned the property next to Jere’s work site. Common practice here in Fort Bragg…

      Report Post »  
  • grumpyt
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 6:12am

    Simple solution to this problem…Personal responsibility and legalize poppies, hemp and the like. Get strung out, up to you or your family to support you. OH and if you get caught making or possessing METH…shot in the head!
    Think about it. Most drug crime is caused by the profit motive. Take away HUGHE profits, it stops being a problem.

    YOU CAN’T LEGISLATE MORALS!

    Report Post » grumpyt  
    • Small Town
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 6:30am

      Yes, you can legislate morals. They are called laws and it is done all the time. Those of you who want to legalize drugs have not studied th history of drug laws. Do some research and find out how things were when drugs were legal. Check out the opium dens.

      Report Post »  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 6:46am

      Check ou the history of marijuana. It was banned because the black man and brown man used it most. It was a race thing. And besides, it wasn’t possible to regulate, because anyone can grow it. It’s a weed. I haven’t researched poppy plants, or the process to grow them or process it into opium, so I can’t comment on that.

      Report Post »  
    • JesusFreak95
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 6:49am

      Simple solution to this problem. Fry the b*stard who shot this Councilman in cold blood. We have given reign and rights to all that is evil in this country.

      Report Post » JesusFreak95  
    • alina.bolero
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 6:56am

      I agree with everything except the “shot in the head” part. @small_town, no, you CANNOT legislate principles and morals. You cannot force the will of anyone, short of extreme mind control and/or brainwashing, just by making something illegal. By the very fact that crimes still happen, regardless of the law, proves that. And if people want to destroy their life and go visit these opium dens you are so worried about, then let them. There will always be altruistic people that will attempt to help those that don’t want to take responsibility for there own life, but even if there are not enough of those people to care for the crack-heads and meth addicts, too bad. I don’t want tax dollars or free hospital care for them either. I would rather let nature deal with the lost causes then continue to have the level of violence that kills innocents, caused by the illegality itself, and heavy taxes that punish the productive to pay for a losing battle! … since you CANNOT legislate morality!

      Report Post » alina.bolero  
    • Viet Vet
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 5:14pm

      Most of our laws legislate morality. Of course, you HAVE to legislate morality if you want civilized society.

      Report Post »  
  • NOCOMMIESPLZ
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 6:12am

    @ JustinHale

    One of the two men where armed and returned fire…

    ————————————————————————

    This should read,

    “The one that was armed and returned fire…SURVIVED!!!

    Report Post »  
    • JustinHale
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 4:13pm

      Yes it should, they both would be dead if Arron would have shot him frist…

      Report Post »  
  • JustinHale
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 4:03am

    The Fort Bragg community is not as libiral as you jerks think. Jere was a stone pillar for out community…

    Report Post »  
    • hempstead1944
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:10am

      Seems like you ought to learn how to spell liberal if you are one….

      Report Post »  
    • JustinHale
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 4:15pm

      Sorry was hammered when I posted this…. I can spell Libertarian…

      Report Post »  
  • megansmom
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 3:08am

    There is so much wrong with this story it baffles my mind. How do you go out looking for illegal drug fields and not be armed? That’s kind of asking for it because the type of people who farm these plants aren,t going to be talked out of shooting you. And why is a civilian out looking for these fields? Where‘s the ATF or even the sheriff isn’t that there job not the forest managers.
    I could go on and on but it’s to late at night.

    Report Post »  
  • RepubliCorp
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 2:42am

    Why would a forest land manager be looking for illegal marijuana farms? Sounds like a sake down to me. He didn’t have a gun but his friend did? This guy was looking for trouble and he found it.

    Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • JustinHale
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 3:56am

      The suspect was squating and they when out to throw him off the private property…

      Report Post »  
    • hillbillyinny
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 6:39am

      Sounds like he did this before either officially or unofficially–he was a town councilman, a “land managment officer, and probably a concerned citizen (who had received a report that “something” was being grown there in the “rugged country.” No gun? Maybe never needed one before, probably didn’t take action, only reported findings.

      I just moved to a very rural house on a farm leased to a friend of mine. Neighbor/owner told a story of the corn crop being harvested last year and another neighbor coming home quickly from work to “harvest” his marajuana plants “hidden” in the corn on his side of the field. No corn this year, but I can see “grow lights” in his garage window! We’re very rural, but any “wandering” state police or sheriff could see those lights too if they wanted to!!! Personal responsibility and all, I don’t care what he does, as long as it stays at his home and on his property, away from my home, my animals, my belongings, my land, and I can live here safety–I do have a gun and WILL use it if necessary!

      Report Post »  
  • glenng2
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 2:39am

    Well I hope he can talk his way into heaven because as a liberal the devil has surely got him by the short hairs.

    Report Post »  
  • Socialism_Is_The_New_Black
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 2:00am

    “He definitely never went out armed in all the years I knew him,” Smallcomb said of Melo, whom he had known for about 25 years. “He wasn’t looking to be violent toward anybody. He could talk his way out of anything if given the opportunity.”

    It’s a little reckless these days to assume the old rules can be applied to the newer ruthless barbaric generations. Regardless of Melo’s political beliefs, the two last sentences in the quote above stink of liberal arrogance.

    Report Post »  
  • Minefield
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 1:30am

    If the shooter was on high ground with a high powered rifle, he probably did not have a chance. Evan if he was armed!

    Report Post » Minefield  
    • JustinHale
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 4:05am

      The guy ambushed the two men and was wearing body armour….

      Report Post »  
  • Westerf4
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:38am

    “He definitely never went out armed in all the years I knew him,” Smallcomb said of Melo, whom he had known for about 25 years. “He wasn’t looking to be violent toward anybody. He could talk his way out of anything if given the opportunity.”

    God rest his soul. This is why refusing to counter violence with violence does not always yield positive results. Unfortunately it is usually a lesson learned too late…

    Report Post » Westerf4  
  • sbeejustsaying
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:08am

    That guy looks like Nasferatu.

    Report Post » sbeejustsaying  
    • mossbrain
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:17am

      So true, I didn’t see that until you said so.

      I may be wrong but I’m pretty sure the regular old poppies you see growing everywhere, (not California poppies), are opium poppies, all you have to do is make a slit in the round part and then collect the “sap” as it comes out.

      Report Post » mossbrain  
    • COFemale
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:42am

      Ah no Mossbrain the regular poppies you see growing on the side of the road do not produce opium. If that was the case, we would see many people on the side of the road harvesting them. There is a specific poppy that produces opium.

      Report Post » COFemale  
    • loriann12
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 6:52am

      It may very well be a myth, but I was told that eating poppy seeds on a bagel would make you pop positive on a drug test (when I was in the Navy). Haven’t researched it, and may have been given a line of crap, don’t know, just saying.

      Report Post »  
    • LOLReally
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 8:15am

      Loriann, it is no myth. My mother failed a pre employment screening after eating a poppy seed bagel. When the employer asked the screener if it could be seeds they replied it’s possible. Sent her in for rescreening the next day and nothing, a memo was sent out to the entire office warning of such false results from poppy seeds. I imagine all poppys produce the sap, but some breeds are much stronger than others.

      Report Post »  
  • Chuck Stein
    Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:01am

    This kinda ties in with the adjacent story about the death penalty.

    Report Post »  
    • netmail
      Posted on August 31, 2011 at 12:16am

      My thoughts exactly. I didn’t like the question about whether the death penalty is Christian or not. It’s justice that we need to talk about more than anything, and getting ticking time bombs like this nut off the streets BEFORE they commit murder. I‘m on the victim’s side. To hell with preditors. They could hunt this murderous fool down and kill him like a dog for all I care. Better that than coddle him in our upside down justice system.

      Report Post »  

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