Closure Violation Leads To Significant Drug Arrest, Seizure

From NPS Incidents:
GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Ranger Justin Webster was preparing to close the Muir Beach parking lot late on the afternoon of January 13th when he noted that a vehicle was still parked in the lot. Webster hiked out to the beach and came upon a man, later identified as Jordan Black of Gurley, Alabama, smoking what appeared to be marijuana in a pipe. Webster called for backup and waited until ranger Ryan Wright arrived on scene. While interviewing Black, another man, Derrek Phillips of Trussville, Alabama, came up from the beach. The two men were escorted off the beach and back to their vehicle. Wright detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from all compartments of the vehicle. A search was conducted, resulting in the seizure of 84.2 grams of hashish, 35.1 grams of marijuana, and 20 pounds of marijuana in a plastic bag. Additional items found included a vacuum sealer, food sealer bags, packaging tape, butane gas, razor blades, PVC pipe, and cellular phones. The men were arrested and taken to the Marin County jail. The Marin County Task Force and NPS special agent Matt Ehmann were notified. During the course of the investigation it was determined that both men were involved in the manufacture and sale of hashish. They were held on state charges on $500,000 bail. Federal charges are pending and the investigation continues.