POLICE RAID GROW HOUSE IN LEHIGH

Marijuana Plants Valued at $300,000

Lee County sheriff's deputies Friday morning uncovered what Sheriff
Mike Scott called one of the healthiest and most mature marijuana
grow houses in memory.

"They're so large, they're twist-tied at the top," Scott said as
narcotics officers rolled 25 plants about 6 feet tall out of the
house at [location deleted]

Most were supported by stakes, even though the stalks had grown to
almost an inch thick at the base.

The sheriff's SWAT team entered the house about 6:30 a.m. after a
month-long investigation and arrested [name deleted] said sheriff's
Spokesman Angelo Vaughn.

[name deleted] is charged with operating a grow house and armed
trafficking because an illegal short-barrel shotgun was found in the home.

Vaughn said deputies discovered 289 pounds of marijuana with an
estimated street value of $300,000. Typically, Vaughn said, the
plants are taken to an undisclosed location and destroyed.

Scott said [name deleted] lived alone but more arrests are pending as
the investigation continues.

"He's got to have an outlet for this," Scott said.

This was the eighth grow-house operation disrupted by sheriff's
deputies in [location deleted] this year, Scott said.

Scott said it was no larger than other recent operations, but he
marveled at the success growers had nursing large, healthy plants in
the home's garage.

The power line leading to the house had been tapped to provide extra
lighting in the garage, and reflective silver sheets on the walls
intensified the lights.

"It's so bright in there you can't even open your eyes," Scott said.

The plants, in large, plastic planters, were packed in so tightly
deputies couldn't move about or tell how many were there.

The well-kept house with green Christmas lights strung along the
front is on a quiet street surrounded mostly by trees, scrub and empty land.

[name deleted] has lived on the street for 27 years.

He said [name deleted] had been there less than a year and kept to himself.

There weren't a lot of cars coming and going or signs that it was a
drug operation, [name deleted] said.

He said he moved to the area for peace and quiet but knew the risk of
encountering those who moved there for less savory reasons.

"It surprised me that it's there, but I'm sure they're all over
Lehigh," [name deleted] said. "I hope the next neighbors don't do that."

Scott said Lehigh's remote areas are attractive to growers and other
criminals because of the seclusion.

"We've got our ears to the ground out here," he said.