California police stumbled upon a hidden cave filled with weapons and illegal gambling machines while responding to a domestic violence report at a home on Saturday, ABC News has learned.
Fresno Police Department officers were sent to the home after a neighbor called to report ongoing yelling and a woman screaming. Police arrived to find a crying woman and children who all appeared scared but the woman refused the officers entry into the home and would not say what happened, the department said.
Meanwhile, two people were seen running side the East Central Fresno home. Thinking someone was injured, the officers entered and searched the house "but strangely could not find the people inside," police said according to ABC News.
The search continued outside the home where a chicken coop was found sitting on top of a skateboard. Police moved the coop, which was resting against a detached garage, and found a staircase leading to an underground cave.
"It was very narrow, and it took a little bit of agility, but once down inside the space, it was like being in forest-y air underground gardens," Battalion Chief Thomas Cope told KFSN.
Inside the cave police found live ammunition, two rifles, illegal gambling machines- and the two people they saw running in the home earlier.
Officers also found TV monitors used for a surveillance system set up throughout the entire home.
Three suspects ended up being arrested as a result of the unexpected discovery.
Daniel Marquez was arrested for three counts of child endangerment. Kue Vang was also arrested for child endangerment along with possession of gambling machines and filing down gun serial numbers. Lee Khammany was arrested for allegedly violating his probation.
