[FastForward]

On July 25 at about 12 p.m., detectives from the Marijuana Eradication Team arrived at the garden, off of Hicks Road near Mount Umunhum, which had been found earlier in the year, authorities said.

As detectives began to secure the garden, they found a man tending to the plants but when the detectives identified themselves, the man fled on foot into heavy bush surrounding the area, authorities said.

Detectives chased the man for several hundred yards before losing sight of him, authorities said.

The detectives were able to gather an accurate description of the man and relayed the information to support personnel patrolling the area.

Shortly after the detectives abandoned their pursuit, one of the units patrolling the area stopped a car containing a male subject that matched the description of the suspect, authorities said.

The man was positively identified by the detectives as the man who fled on foot, authorities said.

Two additional people inside the car were found to be in possession of items consistent with marijuana cultivation, authorities said. All three people were arrested for charges related to marijuana cultivation.

The eradication yielded approximately 5,300 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of approximately $15.9 million, authorities said.

The men have been identified as Miseal Martines Chavez, 21, Felipe Relles, 23, and Antonio Morales Sanchez, 24, according to authorities. All three men are from San Jose.

source: http://www.nbc11.com/news/17064908/detail.html