Investigators attempting to serve a search warrant at a Coachella home found evidence of an illegal drug operation, but no one was there to arrest, sheriff's officials said Saturday.
The raid occurred at 1 p.m. Friday in the 52000 block of Oasis Palm Avenue, just south of Avenue 52, according to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Paul Heredia.
Deputies seized two pounds of prepackaged marijuana, an unspecified amount of heroin and $6,000 in cash, as well as other evidence of a sales operation, he said.
Three dogs were found in the backyard, living in what Heredia described as "deplorable conditions" and were turned over to Riverside County Department of Animal Services for medical evaluation.
The condition of the home was such that code enforcement officials deemed it unfit for habitation and discovered that the occupants had been stealing electricity by bypassing the meter.
Deputies didn't find anyone inside when they searched the residence and no arrests have been made in the case, though the investigation is ongoing.
