Deputies who were looking for an illegal marijuana grow operation in the foothills east of San Jose’s Alum Rock Park on Friday morning are now looking for two men who fled when they encountered officers, authorities said.
A third suspect, who was armed, was bitten by a K-9 and arrested, a sheriff's spokesman said.
Alum Rock Park was evacuated as an "extreme precaution," authorities said. It was reopened Saturday morning.
At least one of the suspects who remained at large was armed, according to police. Deputies said they called off the search around noon out of concern for officers' safety because some areas were out of radio range.
Authorities described the outstanding suspects as two shirtless men in their 20s.
Two semi-automatic handguns were found near the illegal grow, sheriff's Sgt. James Jensen said. Deputies are in the process of removing the marijuana from the illegal grow site by helicopter, he said.
Authorities said they found about 7,500 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $16 million.
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A Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority bus was called to transport children and counselors at a summer camp at the park, Jensen said.
The children, whose parents have been notified of the incident, were taken to Emma Prusch Farm Park at 647 S. King Road, according to city officials.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
