Tahoe Wellness Cooperative and owner's home raided Monday

A large team made up of members from multiple agencies served a search warrant on both the Tahoe Wellness Cooperative and owner Cody Bass's South Lake Tahoe home early Monday morning.

Agents from the Franchise Tax Board (FTB), Board of Equalization, Department of Insurance, South Lake Tahoe Police Department, and El Dorado County Sheriff's Department (EDCSO) were on scene at the co-op according to Tami Grimes, Information Officer with the FTB in Sacramento.

"The contents of the search warrant are sealed," said Grimes.

Cody Bass, owner of the non-profit Tahoe Wellness Cooperative, told South Tahoe Now that he thinks the search warrant was served in response to a recent letter he wrote to the El Dorado County Board of Supervisors. In that letter, Bass said he organized a call to action about Mark Zlendick of the EDCSO. Zlendick is the deputy who was recently arrested on drug charges in Douglas County.

A source at SLTPD said the letter did not bring about Monday's raid.

"They took my computers, my phones, my keys, all of the medicine," said Bass. "As soon as they are done emptying out the Clinic I'll be reopening by tonight. We've been open seven years and we'll continue on. Of course, this is a bummer."

"We employ 30 people and take care of our community," continued Bass. "This action today was very swift so I believe it was in response to my letter to the Board of Supervisors about Zlendick."

The glass door to the collective's community center was broken down by law enforcement. Bass said his employee offered a key, but an unidentified member of law enforcement said they wouldn't have broken down the door had the key been made available.

Bass said he'll be in Placerville first thing Tuesday morning to speak to the Board of Supervisors during their schedule meeting.

A press release is expected from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Department to explain what happened. This story will be updated as soon as this occurs.