Hopland incident ends in mushroom hunt: 0.7 kg of psychedelics confiscated

The following is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office. The information has not been proven in court and all persons described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On 09/18/2024, at approximately 8:30 p.m., officers with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office were called to a report that a man was robbed at gunpoint by his girlfriend in the 13000 block of Mountain House Road in Hopland, California.

Officers arrived at the scene and made contact with the man, who identified himself as Michael Giles. Giles told officers that while driving to Mendocino County, his girlfriend became paranoid and said they were being followed. Giles said his girlfriend shone a flashlight at him from behind and he believed she pointed a gun at him. Although Giles did not see a gun, he feared for his safety and stopped. Giles was able to get away from his vehicle and called police for help.

While speaking with Giles, he gave officers permission to search his converted school bus for the gun. While searching for the gun, officers discovered a large quantity of psilocybin mushrooms packaged in mylar bags. Additionally, officers found unpackaged psilocybin mushrooms, scales, and additional unused mylar bags.

In total, officers seized about 700 grams (1.54 pounds) of psilocybin mushrooms (picture attached).

At the end of their investigation, officers determined that there was no gun, nor was a gun ever pointed at Giles.

Giles was eventually arrested on charges 11378 H&S (possession of a controlled substance for sale) and 11379(a) H&S (transportation of a controlled substance for sale).

Giles was eventually taken to the Mendocino County Jail where he was held on $100,000.00 bail.