Antelope Shoplifting Suspects Lead Deputies To Illegal Pot Grow

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) - Two people accused of shoplifting from an Antelope Walmart inadvertently led police to an illegal pot grow over the weekend.

At around 6 a.m. Saturday a loss prevention officer at the Walmart on 5821 Antelope Road spotted two people committing petty theft, and when he tried to stop them, one suspect pulled out a stun gun and threatened to shock the officer if he followed them, according to Sheriff's Sgt. Lisa Bowman.

The suspects left the store, got into a car and drove off, but not before the officer took down the license plate number and called 911.

Deputies ran a report on the license plate and went to the home listed on the vehicle's registration. They saw the suspects' vehicle parked near the home. As deputies tried to make contact with the suspects at the home, four people fled. Deputies caught three of them, one of which was identified as a suspect spotted at Walmart.

Deputies found an illegal marijuana growing operation inside the home.

Those arrested were Nikolayevi Yakimenko, 40, who faces charges of armed robbery and cultivation of marijuana, Igor Ivanov, 29, who was arrested for outstanding warrants, and Natalya Yakimenko, 40, on charges of resisting arrest (misdemeanor) and cultivation of marijuana.