Sheriff’s Marijuana Enforcement Team respond to a fire at a residence and discover 1,400 marijuana plants
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, January 17, 2018 / 1:00 a.m.
INCIDENT: Arson / Theft of Electricity / Indoor Marijuana Grow
LOCATION: 14200 Block of Desert Rose Street, Hesperia
SUSPECT(S): ** Suspect identification pending **
SUMMARY:
On Wednesday, January 17th, at approximately 1:00 am, deputies from the Hesperia Police Department responded to a residence in the 14200 block of Desert Rose Street to assist the San Bernardino County Fire Department with a fire at the residence. Members of the fire department extinguished the fire. While fighting the fire, the fire department personnel entered the residence to check the structure for occupants and found several hundred marijuana plants growing inside the residence.
The Sheriff’s Marijuana Enforcement Team responded to the location and served a search warrant. Investigators found a large-scale indoor grow inside the house. Over 1,400 marijuana plants and several pounds of processed marijuana was seized from the residence. The grow operation used advanced lighting, air conditioning, fans, exhaust blowers and an air-filtering system to control the climate inside the house as well as the odor coming from the residence. The suspects were stealing electrical power to facilitate the grow operation.
Suspects who grow marijuana illicitly will commonly bypass the electrical meter installed by the electrical company because of the high amount of electricity needed to power the growing equipment. The high usage may also alert the utility company and/or law enforcement to the illegal grow. Additionally, the suspects do not pay for the high amount of electricity being used or stolen. The extreme measures used to avoid being caught endangers the public living near the residence. As in this case, an electrical short or overloaded circuit can cause the unpermitted electrical wiring to fail and will most likely result in an explosion or fire. The potential for injuries to bystanders or property damage to other structures near the residence is extremely high.
The suspect(s) will face criminal charges of Arson, Vandalism, Utility Theft and Cultivation of Cannabis; over 6 plants. The investigation/reports will be sent to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office once they are complete.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division at (909)387-8400. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.
Refer: Sheriff’s Public Affairs
DR #: 651800025
Phone No. (909)387-3700
John McMahon, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Address/Location
SBSD - Hesperia Police Department
15840 Smoke Tree St
Hesperia, CA 92345
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 760-947-1549