EBRPD Police Still Searching For Upper San Leandro Gunman; Two Marijuana Grows Located and Removed

East Bay Regional Park District police have not found the man one of their officers said opened fire on him with an automatic rifle during a routine patrol of the Upper San Leandro Watershed - but two marijuana grow sites were found and later removed.

EBRPD Capt. (and former Moraga Police Chief) Mark Ruppenthal reported Saturday that ongoing ground and aerial searches of the rugged terrain south of Moraga pinpointed the sites. 

"...the police department did continue to search the area for a marijuana cultivation site in the watershed and after ground and aerial searches were completed, two sites were located west of the (shooting) location closer to Pinehurst Road," Ruppenthal said.

EBRPD officers, supported by EBMUD Watershed Ranger staff, entered the sites and "removed approximately 1,000 plants," according to Ruppenthal.

"The site was very difficult to enter due to heavy vegetation," he said. "No suspects were located when we moved in."

Startled Moragans unused to gunfire and the sort of police response the incident sparked that night immediately speculated that the gunman - reportedly part of a larger group of armed men - was a guard for a grow site in the area. But police said they have nothing to tie the gunman to the grow sites and that the reason for the reported attack on their officer remains unclear.

"This is still an active and open investigation," Ruppenthal said. "Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Tyrone Davis, at 510-881-1833."