Hundreds of marijuana plants found near Madera County elementary school

Hundreds of marijuana plants were found growing near Fairmead Elementary School in Chowchilla on Friday after shots were fired nearby.

Lt. Bill Ward, spokesman for the Madera County Sheriff's Office, said the school was locked down for about 45 minutes as a safety precaution as deputies went to a house along Road 19 ½ near the elementary school, where the shots were believed to have been fired.

About 560 marijuana plants were found growing on the property in an enclosed backyard, Ward said.

Deputies detained two people at the residence and called for assistance from the Madera County Narcotics Enforcement Team (MADNET), whose agents also seized about 170 grams of processed marijuana at the house, Ward said.

Ward said while the two detained were interviewed and released, charges will be forwarded to the Madera County District Attorney’s Office on suspicion of illegal cultivation of marijuana. No guns were found at the home.

This story was originally published May 20, 2015 at 4:23 PM with the headline "Hundreds of marijuana plants found near Madera County elementary school."