FruityBud
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Polk County Sheriff's detectives have located three separate marijuana grow houses in Lakeland and Poinciana.
The first arrest was made after a Lakeland Electric employee turned off electricity to a home and noticed that some lights remained on. The employee called the Polk Sheriff's Office on suspicions that the homeowner was illegally tapping electricity, which is a sign that marijuana is being cultivated.
Undercover detectives interviewed 38-year-old Elier Nieves and searched the home. They found a barn in the backyard with a trapdoor leading to a room set up as a grow house.
Nieves admitted that the grow house was his. He was arrested and charged with Cultivation of Cannabis, Possession of Cannabis With Intent to Sell,Theft of Utility Services, Maintaining a Dwelling for Drug Use,Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
In another investigation, detectives arrived at a Poinciana residence after receiving a tip that the home was being used to grow marijuana.
32-year-old Edwin Gonzalez-Colon and 19-year-old Kelven Batista were arrested after 40 mature marijuana plants were found growing in one of the bedrooms. 4 grams of heroin were also found.
Colon was charged with Trafficking in Heroin,Cultivation of Cannabis, Possession of Cannabis, Maintaining a Dwelling for Drug Trafficking, Grand Theft, and Possession of Paraphernalia. Batista was charged with Cultivation of Cannabis, and Maintaining a Dwelling for Drug Trafficking.
During the investigation, Colon gave detectives information about another Poinciana grow house location.
Detectives arrived at the home and found a bedroom that had been converted into a marijuana growing operation but had been dismantled. The room contained equipment, plant leaves, and debris.
40-year-old Catalino Vasquez-Hildago was arrested and charged with Cultivation of Cannabis, Possession of Cannabis, Maintaining a Dwelling for Drug Trafficking, Theft of Utility Services, Grand Theft of Electricity, and Possession of Paraphernalia.
In a statement, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, "Yet again we were able to locate and destroy marijuana grow houses thanks to tips from residents and alert Lakeland Electric employees. Without the assistance of these extra sets of eyes and the ears in the neighborhoods of our county, law enforcement officers wouldn't be able to put the people behind bars who are committing the crimes and trying to hide from the law."
So far this year, 33 marijuana grow houses have been located in unincorporated Polk County.
The total for last year was 39.
hxxp://shuurl.com/X5669
The first arrest was made after a Lakeland Electric employee turned off electricity to a home and noticed that some lights remained on. The employee called the Polk Sheriff's Office on suspicions that the homeowner was illegally tapping electricity, which is a sign that marijuana is being cultivated.
Undercover detectives interviewed 38-year-old Elier Nieves and searched the home. They found a barn in the backyard with a trapdoor leading to a room set up as a grow house.
Nieves admitted that the grow house was his. He was arrested and charged with Cultivation of Cannabis, Possession of Cannabis With Intent to Sell,Theft of Utility Services, Maintaining a Dwelling for Drug Use,Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
In another investigation, detectives arrived at a Poinciana residence after receiving a tip that the home was being used to grow marijuana.
32-year-old Edwin Gonzalez-Colon and 19-year-old Kelven Batista were arrested after 40 mature marijuana plants were found growing in one of the bedrooms. 4 grams of heroin were also found.
Colon was charged with Trafficking in Heroin,Cultivation of Cannabis, Possession of Cannabis, Maintaining a Dwelling for Drug Trafficking, Grand Theft, and Possession of Paraphernalia. Batista was charged with Cultivation of Cannabis, and Maintaining a Dwelling for Drug Trafficking.
During the investigation, Colon gave detectives information about another Poinciana grow house location.
Detectives arrived at the home and found a bedroom that had been converted into a marijuana growing operation but had been dismantled. The room contained equipment, plant leaves, and debris.
40-year-old Catalino Vasquez-Hildago was arrested and charged with Cultivation of Cannabis, Possession of Cannabis, Maintaining a Dwelling for Drug Trafficking, Theft of Utility Services, Grand Theft of Electricity, and Possession of Paraphernalia.
In a statement, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, "Yet again we were able to locate and destroy marijuana grow houses thanks to tips from residents and alert Lakeland Electric employees. Without the assistance of these extra sets of eyes and the ears in the neighborhoods of our county, law enforcement officers wouldn't be able to put the people behind bars who are committing the crimes and trying to hide from the law."
So far this year, 33 marijuana grow houses have been located in unincorporated Polk County.
The total for last year was 39.
hxxp://shuurl.com/X5669
