Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested the operator of a marijuana grow operation after an alleged kidnapping and ransom incident last week, according to a department press release.
Just after 11:30 PM on Wednesday, June 3, deputies responded to the Round Valley Tribal Police office to speak with a man who said he’d been kidnapped and robbed in Covelo. Three other men were also present including the victim’s brother-in-law, who served as his translator as the victim spoke only Spanish.
The victim recalled that, around 1 PM the day before, the owner of the grow operation — identified as 20-year-old Emergene Phillips — arrived at the property and started berating the victim and another worker. Since the victim couldn’t understand Phillips, he called his brother-in-law out to the property to translate for him.
When the brother-in-law arrived, Phillips told him that the victim and the other worker owed him $30,000, which Phillips was then told would not be possible until after the marijuana was harvested and sold.
At that point, Phillips is said to have retrieved a rifle from his car and brandished it at the group before ultimately leaving.
The next morning, June 3, Phillips returned with another man identified as Leonard Whipple. Phillips allegedly brandished a pistol and used it to strike the victim twice in the back before forcing him to his knees and ordering him to call his brother-in-law.
When he did, Phillips relayed that if he didn’t receive the money he would kill the victim.
Phillips then forced the victim into his truck and he, the victim, and Whipple began driving around Covelo looking for the brother-in-law, all the while with Phillips calling him numerous times and reiterating the threat.
They eventually released the victim on Airport Road.
By the end of the interview, deputies had also taken note of visible bruising on the victim’s back that was consistent with his claims.
They later visited the cultivation site and were unable to locate Phillips or Whipple, but ended up finding and arresting Whipple in Covelo later that day.
According to the press release, charges against Whipple due to his involvement are also being considered.
