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SANTA FE SPRINGS -- Two men are in custody and a third was being sought Wednesday after a break-in at a medical marijuana dispensary, police said.
Germell Miles, 35, of Los Angeles and Bryan Adams, 25, of Hawthorne were booked on suspicion of burglary, Whittier police Lt. Randy Inman said.
Officers responded to a burglary call about 1:30 a.m. at the dispensary on Los Nietos Road, just west of Norwalk Boulevard, according to the lieutenant.
Three suspects ran when police arrived, he said.
Officers found two of the men during a search of the area, Inman said. One was arrested with the use of a police K-9 and was treated for dog bites before being taken to jail.
Police also impounded the suspects' car, which was left at the scene of the burglary when they fled, the lieutenant said.
It was not clear whether any marijuana had been stolen or recovered, police said.
According to county booking records, Miles was released from jail Wednesday after posting $20,000 bail, while Adams was being held without bail pending his initial court appearance.
EL MONTE -- Police arrested the parents of an infant after rushing to the family's home after the baby stopped breathing Wednesday and discovering a marijuana growing operation, authorities said.
Van Pho, 30, and Jing Gao, 21, were booked on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana and child abuse, El Monte police Lt. Dan Burlingham said.
The mother awoke shortly after 10 a.m. Wednesday in an apartment in the 11100 block of Elliott Avenue and discovered her 2- to 3-month-old baby boy was unresponsive and not breathing, the lieutenant said.
She called authorities, who rushed the baby to the Methodist Hospital in Arcadia, where doctors were able to find a faint heartbeat, Burlingham said. The child was then rushed to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, where he was listed in critical condition.
While at the home, police observed an indoor pot-growing operation of about 100 plants, officials said. The baby's parents were arrested.
There were no initial physical signs of abuse on the child, and the reason he stopped breathing was unknown, Burlingham said.
Pho and Gao were released from jail Thursday afternoon after posting $100,000 bail each, officials said. They were due for arraignment Feb. 23 in El Monte Superior Court.
MONROVIA -- A report of a water leak led to the discovery of more than 250 pot plants growing in an apartment earlier this week, police said Friday.
A property owner went to an apartment in the 700 block of West Walnut Avenue about 6:20 p.m. Wednesday after a neighbor reported a water leak, Monrovia police Sgt. Don Newton said.
No one was home in the leaking apartment, so the property owner went in, police said.
"He went inside and found all of the rooms full of marijuana plants," police said in a written statement. "The water leak was caused by the irrigation system for the plants."
The wiring used to provide electricity, which was allegedly stolen from the Southern California Edison grid, posed a serious safety risk, and SCE officials were summoned to cut off power to the unit, Newton said.
More than 250 marijuana plants were seized, along with hydroponic equipment used to grow the pot, officials said.
No suspects had been arrested Friday.
SOUTH PASADENA -- Police arrested a bicyclist early Thursday after he was found carrying 23 pounds of pot, authorities said.
Marco Solis, 53, of San Gabriel was booked on suspicion of possessing and transporting marijuana for sales, South Pasadena police officials said in a written statement. He was already on felony probation for a previous drug conviction.
Cpl. Jason Lucas was working a burglary suppression patrol about 2:30 a.m. in the 300 block of Monterey Road when he spotted Solis riding a bicycle and stopped him for not having a headlight or rear reflector, officials said.
"A further investigation by Corporal Lucas and assisting officers revealed 23 pounds of marijuana hidden inside an Igloo water cooler the suspect was carrying while riding his bike," according to the police statement.
Officials estimated the street value of the marijuana at about $23,000.
According to county booking records, Solis was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail at the South Pasadena Police Department's jail pending a court appearance.
ROWLAND HEIGHTS - Firefighters putting out a two-story house fire Monday night discovered more than 500 marijuana plants being grown there.
Authorities late Monday night found more than 500 marijuana plants growing in a home in the 18000 block of Villa Clara Street in Rowland Heights, said Sgt. Tim Robarge of the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff's Station.
The fire department received a call about a structure fire at 10:49 p.m., said Andre Gougis, supervising dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Firefighters found the second floor on fire. About 25 firefighters knocked down the blaze at 11:19 p.m.
Fire officials notified the sheriff's Walnut/Diamond Bar station about the pot plants at the house.
Each room had plants that were being grown at different stages, Robarge said, adding that a majority of the house had been converted to be a grow house, with various lights, filters and electrical jerry rigging.
"That's probably what caused the fire," Robarge said of the electrical wiring.
Authorities believe the house was being rented, but it has not been confirmed, Robarge said.
One person was injured as a result of the fire.
The investigation is ongoing.
- From staff reports
Authorities late Monday night found more than 500 marijuana plants growing in a home in the 18000 block of Villa Clara Street in Rowland Heights, said Sgt. Tim Robarge of the Walnut/Diamond Bar Sheriff's Station.
The fire department received a call about a structure fire at 10:49 p.m., said Andre Gougis, supervising dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Firefighters found the second floor on fire. About 25 firefighters knocked down the blaze at 11:19 p.m.
Fire officials notified the sheriff's Walnut/Diamond Bar station about the pot plants at the house.
Each room had plants that were being grown at different stages, Robarge said, adding that a majority of the house had been converted to be a grow house, with various lights, filters and electrical jerry rigging.
"That's probably what caused the fire," Robarge said of the electrical wiring.
Authorities believe the house was being rented, but it has not been confirmed, Robarge said.
One person was injured as a result of the fire.
The investigation is ongoing.
- From staff reports
POMONA -- A SWAT team raided a medical marijuana dispensary Thursday and arrested a Rialto man on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sales, authorities said.
Javier Sarabia, 33, was booked at the Pomona Police Department's jail and released later in the day after posting $20,000 bail, according to county booking records.
SWAT team members and detectives served a search warrant about 10:45 a.m. at "Natural Remedies," 162 E. First Street, Pomona police Sgt. Duane Leonard said in a written statement.
"The search warrant was obtained as the result of a month-long investigation into the illegal sales of marijuana from the location," Leonard said. "The investigation was prompted by complaints from citizens regarding the illegal activity."
About a pound of marijuana, cash and weapons were seized during the operation, officials said.
"This location is among many other store front marijuana sales locations that have been closed in recent months," Leonard said.
SAN DIEGO -- Federal customs officials say they foiled an attempt to smuggle drugs into California from Mexico after discovering more than nine tons of marijuana inside a big-rig at a San Diego-area border crossing.
Federal homeland security spokeswoman Lauren Mack said Friday seven men were charged with drug smuggling after the seizure at the Otay Mesa crossing.
During an X-ray inspection of the truck, hundreds of pillow-sized bricks of marijuana estimated to be worth more than $13 million were found on the truck Tuesday.
The suspects -- whose ages range from 19 to 47 -- were arraigned in federal court Wednesday.
The bust was near the same crossing where a major underground drug-smuggling tunnel was discovered this month.
- From the Associated Press
POMONA -- We-Tip information led police to a large-scale marijuana grow operation in Pomona.
Police officers received anonymous information that two men were cultivating marijuana inside a business at 2720 Pomona Blvd., which is in an industrial area of the city.
When officers arrived on Monday they talked to Van Quang Nguyen, 50, of Westminster who said he was the renter of the property and in charge of what was inside the building, Pomona police Sgt. Jaime Gutierrez said in a written statement.
More than 2,800 plants in various stages of growth were found inside, he said.
Follow-up searches at the Westminster homes of the suspects yielded an additional 30 pounds of harvested marijuana, police said. The estimated street value of the pot was more than $1.5 million.
Nguyen, along with Thanh Van Lee, 40, of Westminster were arrested and booked at Pomona City Jail on suspicion of possessing and cultivating marijuana for sale, officials said. Their bail was set at $100,000.
Police said the suspects also stole electricity from Southern California Edison to set up the operation.
LA IMPACT, a regional narcotics unit, was called to the scene for assistance.
Police officers received anonymous information that two men were cultivating marijuana inside a business at 2720 Pomona Blvd., which is in an industrial area of the city.
When officers arrived on Monday they talked to Van Quang Nguyen, 50, of Westminster who said he was the renter of the property and in charge of what was inside the building, Pomona police Sgt. Jaime Gutierrez said in a written statement.
More than 2,800 plants in various stages of growth were found inside, he said.
Follow-up searches at the Westminster homes of the suspects yielded an additional 30 pounds of harvested marijuana, police said. The estimated street value of the pot was more than $1.5 million.
Nguyen, along with Thanh Van Lee, 40, of Westminster were arrested and booked at Pomona City Jail on suspicion of possessing and cultivating marijuana for sale, officials said. Their bail was set at $100,000.
Police said the suspects also stole electricity from Southern California Edison to set up the operation.
LA IMPACT, a regional narcotics unit, was called to the scene for assistance.
SANTA FE SPRINGS -- The second man convicted in a failed robbery at a medical marijuana dispensary last year has been sentenced to 16 years in state prison, officials said Thursday.
Chavasco Coogler, 30, of Los Angeles received his sentence after pleading "no contest" to a county of second-degree robbery in connection with the Aug. 10, 2010 robbery at the now-closed A.P. Natural Solutions medical marijuana dispensary in the 9800 block of Alburtis Avenue, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
Coogler committed the crime with 19-year-old Travon Brooks of Harbor City, who pleaded guilty to the robbery and received a 12-year-prison sentence in November, Davila-Morales said.
The men failed to obtain any money or marijuana in the heist, but they did flee with a security guard's gun, officials said.
After fighting with the men, in a dramatic scene caught on a surveillance camera, the security guard locked the robbers inside the dispensary.
One of the men fired a shot at the door before forcing the guard to unlock it.
Last month, city officials sent cease and desist letters to 18 medical marijuana dispensaries within Santa Fe Springs, ordering them to close down by the end of the month.
Several owners of the dispensaries have said they will fight the decision.
Chavasco Coogler, 30, of Los Angeles received his sentence after pleading "no contest" to a county of second-degree robbery in connection with the Aug. 10, 2010 robbery at the now-closed A.P. Natural Solutions medical marijuana dispensary in the 9800 block of Alburtis Avenue, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
Coogler committed the crime with 19-year-old Travon Brooks of Harbor City, who pleaded guilty to the robbery and received a 12-year-prison sentence in November, Davila-Morales said.
The men failed to obtain any money or marijuana in the heist, but they did flee with a security guard's gun, officials said.
After fighting with the men, in a dramatic scene caught on a surveillance camera, the security guard locked the robbers inside the dispensary.
One of the men fired a shot at the door before forcing the guard to unlock it.
Last month, city officials sent cease and desist letters to 18 medical marijuana dispensaries within Santa Fe Springs, ordering them to close down by the end of the month.
Several owners of the dispensaries have said they will fight the decision.
WEST COVINA -- Police jailed to men Friday on suspicion of growing hundreds of marijuana plants inside a vacant home, authorities said.
Nguyen Chu, 54, of Los Angeles and Phu Quan, 49, of Los Angeles were booked on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana, West Covina police Lt. Tommy Garcia said.
Officers received a call shortly before 11 a.m. reporting two suspicious vehicles in the driveway of a vacant home at 544 N. Foxdale Avenue, the lieutenant said.
Officers stopped on vehicle that was leaving the home and arrested the driver, Garcia said. The second suspect was arrested as he was sitting in a car still parked in the home's driveway.
As police were looking around to make sure no one else was at the vacant home, they noticed about 75 marijuana plants growing in the home's garage, and another 300-400 plants growing within the home itself, officials said.
Officers then stopped and requested a warrant to continue their investigation, Garcia said.
Nguyen Chu, 54, of Los Angeles and Phu Quan, 49, of Los Angeles were booked on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana, West Covina police Lt. Tommy Garcia said.
Officers received a call shortly before 11 a.m. reporting two suspicious vehicles in the driveway of a vacant home at 544 N. Foxdale Avenue, the lieutenant said.
Officers stopped on vehicle that was leaving the home and arrested the driver, Garcia said. The second suspect was arrested as he was sitting in a car still parked in the home's driveway.
As police were looking around to make sure no one else was at the vacant home, they noticed about 75 marijuana plants growing in the home's garage, and another 300-400 plants growing within the home itself, officials said.
Officers then stopped and requested a warrant to continue their investigation, Garcia said.
WHITTIER -- A Whittier man with a fitting name has been sentenced for cultivating marijuana in an industrial building, authorities said.
Police arrested Kevin Stoner, 39, July 12 after he was found growing more than 300 pot plants inside a building in an industrial park at 13420 Lambert Road.
Stoner was due in Downey Superior Court for a hearing Tuesday, at which time he pleaded guilty to charges of cultivating marijuana and possession of marijuana for sales, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
A judge immediately sentenced him to 180 days in jail and three years of formal probation, she said.
Investigators seized about 60 pounds of marijuana from the grow operation, valued at about $180,000, when they searched the building in July, police said at the time.
Stoner was arrested at the facility.
The hydroponic marijuana grow took up five separate rooms inside the building.
Police arrested Kevin Stoner, 39, July 12 after he was found growing more than 300 pot plants inside a building in an industrial park at 13420 Lambert Road.
Stoner was due in Downey Superior Court for a hearing Tuesday, at which time he pleaded guilty to charges of cultivating marijuana and possession of marijuana for sales, Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office spokeswoman Shiara Davila-Morales said.
A judge immediately sentenced him to 180 days in jail and three years of formal probation, she said.
Investigators seized about 60 pounds of marijuana from the grow operation, valued at about $180,000, when they searched the building in July, police said at the time.
Stoner was arrested at the facility.
The hydroponic marijuana grow took up five separate rooms inside the building.
ROSEMEAD -- A small fire Monday led investigators to find as many as 1,000 marijuana plants growing inside a Rosemead home, officials said.
No arrests had been made early Tuesday in connection with the indoor pot-growing operation, found about 7 p.m. Monday in the 4400 block of Lee Circle, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Tim Murakami said.
Firefighters and deputies responded to reports of smoke at the home and went to investigate what was later found to be a small electrical fire in the garage, the lieutenant said.
Officials discovered the home had been converted into a marijuana farm, with about 800 to 1,000 plants complete with irrigation and lighting, Murakami said.
Detectives were continuing their investigation into who was responsible for the pot, he said.
No arrests had been made early Tuesday in connection with the indoor pot-growing operation, found about 7 p.m. Monday in the 4400 block of Lee Circle, Los Angeles County sheriff's Lt. Tim Murakami said.
Firefighters and deputies responded to reports of smoke at the home and went to investigate what was later found to be a small electrical fire in the garage, the lieutenant said.
Officials discovered the home had been converted into a marijuana farm, with about 800 to 1,000 plants complete with irrigation and lighting, Murakami said.
Detectives were continuing their investigation into who was responsible for the pot, he said.
IRWINDALE -- Police arrested a man with more than 500 pounds of marijuana Thursday after a high-speed chase, officials said.
George Farias, 40, of San Bernardino was booked on suspicion of felony evasion of police, possession of marijuana for sales and transportation of marijuana for sales, Irwindale police Lt. Mario Camacho said.
An officer tried to pull over a Toyota Tundra pickup truck about 11:30 a.m. on Vincent Avenue near the 10 Freeway after it nearly struck a postal carrier on foot, the lieutenant said.
The truck initially pulled over at Vincent and Rowland avenues, Camacho said, but sped off once the officer got out of his patrol car and approached.
The Tundra led police on a chase onto the 10 Freeway, driving erratically and reaching speeds of around 100 mph, Camacho said. Officers backed off and saw the truck exit at Citrus Street.
Witnesses pointed police toward the truck at Citrus Street and Norma Avenue in West Covina, police said. The driver had jumped out, allowing the truck to continue rolling into a small brick wall and a parked SUV.
Inside the truck, officials found more than 500 pounds of marijuana packaged in 26 bundles, Camacho said.
The Foothill Special Enforcement Team, a SWAT team servicing several cities in the San Gabriel Valley, happened to be training in Irwindale and went to the scene to perform a yard-to-yard search, Camacho said.
Farias was found hiding in a garage not far from where the truck was ditched and arrested without a struggle, officials said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Farias was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and was due for arraignment Monday in West Covina Superior Court.
George Farias, 40, of San Bernardino was booked on suspicion of felony evasion of police, possession of marijuana for sales and transportation of marijuana for sales, Irwindale police Lt. Mario Camacho said.
An officer tried to pull over a Toyota Tundra pickup truck about 11:30 a.m. on Vincent Avenue near the 10 Freeway after it nearly struck a postal carrier on foot, the lieutenant said.
The truck initially pulled over at Vincent and Rowland avenues, Camacho said, but sped off once the officer got out of his patrol car and approached.
The Tundra led police on a chase onto the 10 Freeway, driving erratically and reaching speeds of around 100 mph, Camacho said. Officers backed off and saw the truck exit at Citrus Street.
Witnesses pointed police toward the truck at Citrus Street and Norma Avenue in West Covina, police said. The driver had jumped out, allowing the truck to continue rolling into a small brick wall and a parked SUV.
Inside the truck, officials found more than 500 pounds of marijuana packaged in 26 bundles, Camacho said.
The Foothill Special Enforcement Team, a SWAT team servicing several cities in the San Gabriel Valley, happened to be training in Irwindale and went to the scene to perform a yard-to-yard search, Camacho said.
Farias was found hiding in a garage not far from where the truck was ditched and arrested without a struggle, officials said.
According to sheriff's booking records, Farias was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and was due for arraignment Monday in West Covina Superior Court.
From the Associated Press:
LOS ANGELES -- Police raided a Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensary suspected of being a front for an interstate drug-trafficking operation, arresting six people -- including two Pasadena men -- and seizing 20 pounds of cocaine and several weapons, authorities said.
Raymond George, 60, the owner of the White Oak Healing Center in the San Fernando Valley, was among those arrested for investigation of conspiracy to sell cocaine and marijuana, police said in a statement Thursday.
The others arrested were Reginald Beijer, 59, and Alfredo Gonzalez, 51, both of Pasadena; Halz Carrera, 51, of Los Angeles; Francisco Franco, 41, of Riverside; and Francisco Vallejo, a 30-year-old resident of Tijuana, Mexico.
The investigation began last year after a murder attempt on George's son in what appeared to be an organized crime-style hit. Police said the probe, conducted with Ohio drug trafficking investigators, led to information that implicated George in the transportation and sale of marijuana and cocaine between Los Angeles and Cleveland, where he has a second home.
He was arrested after officers, who were preparing to serve a search warrant at the center, saw five men come in to make an alleged cocaine deal, the statement said. They were taken into custody while leaving the center and George was arrested after SWAT officers ordered him to come out.
Besides the drugs, police seized a loaded rifle, two loaded pistols, a bottle containing 120 oxycodone pills and nearly $7,000 in cash. They said they found the cocaine in one of the suspect's vehicles, and seized George's car, which had Ohio license plates and had been modified with secret storage compartments.
Each of the six suspects was being held on $1.5 million bail.
An after-hours call to the center went unanswered.
CONTRIBUTORS
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| Frank Girardot, Metro Editor for the San Gabriel Valley Newspapers, brings you behind the yellow tape with takes on true crime, cold cases and more. This is also your forum to discuss crime, its impact on your neighborhood and how we cover it. Have any questions or tips? You can leave a comment here or e-mail Frank. |
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Brian Day is the crime reporter for the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper group. E-mail Brian. |
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