A gunshot fired at hikers Sunday led sheriff’s deputies to a 45-year-old alleged gunman and an indoor marijuana grow and hash oil extraction lab at his Valley Center residence.
Michael Steven Thyberg was arrested shortly after 8 a.m. Sunday on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, being a felon in possession of a firearm and marijuana violations, according to sheriff’s officials and jail records. He remained behind bars Monday.
Sheriff’s officials said Thyberg was suspected of shooting at and threatening two hikers who he accused of jumping the fence onto his property in the 27300 block of Kiavo Drive near Paradise Mountain Road. The victims told deputies they heard the gunshot and saw dust and debris flying from the roadway nearby as they tried to continue their walk.
Thyberg then allegedly followed the pair in his vehicle and made additional threats before turning around and heading back to the residence, sheriff’s Sgt. Frank Gallardo said.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the report in a helicopter and demanded Thyberg exit the home, which he did, Gallardo said. He was detained and handcuffed as deputies conducted a “protective sweep” of the property, he said.
The indoor marijuana grow was found during the initial search, and Thyberg was arrested after being identified by the two victims, Gallardo said.
A subsequent search of the residence turned up 289 marijuana plants, 40 pounds of processed marijuana, a small hash oil extraction lab, around five grams of hash wax, a shotgun and ammunition, Gallardo said.
— City News Service