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By Paul Takahashi (contact) 
Monday, Dec. 10, 2012 | 5:46 p.m.
Grow House
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KSNV reports on a Metro raid of a marijuana grow operation at two Henderson homes.
Site of first raid
Metro Police arrested two people Monday afternoon in connection with a "well-designed" marijuana grow operation discovered in two Henderson homes.
Officers raided the first of two suspected grow houses, on the 600 block of Black Ridge Road — near Horizon Drive and U.S. 95 — about 3 p.m., according to Lt. Laz Chavez with Metro's narcotics unit.
Inside, police found nearly 70 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of $250,000. Officers also recovered several pounds of finished marijuana product, as well as a handgun, Chavez said.
Officers arrested a 23-year-old man and a 21-year-old woman in connection with the marijuana grow operation, which took over three rooms in the house. Officers found extensive electrical wiring, fertilizer and chemicals in the home, presumably to aid in the grow operation.
A multi-agency anti-drug task force composed of Metro Police, Henderson Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration is currently raiding a second suspected grow house, a short distance from the first home, Chavez said. More details are forthcoming.
Metro Police were alerted to the alleged grow houses by a neighbor, who reported suspicious activity. After officers ran surveillance the homes over several days, they obtained a search warrant and launched a raid of the properties.
"We're not sure if it's a trend, but we're beginning to see more and more homes in the Henderson area," Chavez said. "They're popping up all over the valley, not just in Las Vegas."
Officers are also finding an "alarming" amount of guns at these grow houses, Chavez said. Within the past two weeks, police recovered 22 firearms at one suspected grow house, he added.
"These drug dealers are defending these homes (with guns)," Chavez said. "We're concerned about citizens caught in the crossfire."
Chavez urged the public to contact police whenever they see any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.
"We follow up on every tip," he said.
If it were legal, there would be no guns involved. Criminalization is the real crime.
We need more privately owned prisons to house all of these dangerous gardeners......
This is a close one , right around the corner from me. That house has always had trouble renters. Good riddence. I've called the law several times in the past to watch the lot across the street, no help so I took of it my way. But I'm glad to hear they did something about the trash around the corner.
Legalize it already! This is Nevada for crying out loud.
I hate to say it, but time to make pot legal. Not only could we tax it, but then we could govern the use of it like alcohol, and nullify at least one drug import... and you know, and stop this unsurmountable Bush/Reaganesque just say no/war on drugs.
Another small business squashed in Nevada, and they had a gun!
Good thing no one was killed.
Wow! The best line of the week!
"We need more privately owned prisons to house all of these dangerous gardeners."
What a waste of police resources - surveillance and all - for what? A few weed plants?
If people want it they will find a way to get it! Prohibition does NOT work! Legalize it - regulate it and TAX IT!
Enough!
Waste of money, and Metro wants more taxes? Nevada used to be the state that let people alone, now WA CO etc have legal pot. Nevada boomed with legal gambling, quickie marriage and divorce, brothels, now we fall behind no pot, no gay marriage.
We lost money and hurt our economy.
This is because of hate talk radio in Nevada.
Just a few pot plants? Let me educate you what that brings into the neighborhood. Drug dealers on the corner by a day care. Paranoid (from whatever else they are high on), drunk drivers/addicts to get their fix driving through while kids are walking home from school. Hit and runs. Property destruction and traffic, traffic, traffic. Not to mention all the burglaries. All in your nice suburban neighborhood. Maybe you should volunteer to have a grow house next to you so they can tap into your power and you can pay for it? But hey, it is just a little pot right? Have it next door pal. For those of you criticizing Metro, and HPD? I for one am very grateful. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Geemoney,
Fully legalize it, regulate it, tax it and in general treat it like alcohol and most of the problems you see with pot would be greatly reduced. I won't say they will be eliminated (although some might) but the pressures that drive some will disappear to a large extent.
You would think a broke government may come up with the ideal one day to legalize it and tax it, does congress have a suggestion box ?
Legalize it and tax it.
Oh, that's right, that logical and a smart thing to do.
Two terms the police and politicians have no understanding of.
For proof this and every other marijuana raid for the past 12-14 years violates our Constitution, have a look @ http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Const/NVConst...
The police state is alive and well and growing in "Libertarian" Nevada.
"Where rights secured by the Constitution are involved, there can be no rulemaking or legislation which would abrogate them." -- Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436, 491 (1966)
Didn't say I was against it becoming legalized.You guys can easily write in here from your safe neighborhood. Right now it's illegal and therefore I want it away from my house yesterday. I'm sure my neighbor who got burglarized two weeks ago is comforted by your suggestions to legalize pot and your criticism of the police. Instead he is going to local pawn shops trying to find his stolen items. If it wasn't for my neighbors, Metro and HPD this crap wouldn't have stopped. That is a lot more than I can say for you sitting on your butt smoking your pot. Didn't I see you on the corner last week?
Which is more socially dangerous -- an unhealthy citizenry addicted to body destroying pharmaceuticals with dangerous side-effects or an unhealthy citizenry which seeks relief through State mandates that merely identify them as federal criminals?
Such are today's American choices.
: o
As a former grower myself (in the State of California)...I just laugh at the people such as Geemoney and fedup2here. I grew for over 10 years (mostly for me and my husbands own personal use...we had some friends who helped pay for the expenses...fertilizer and electricity). We both had full time jobs...never stole electricity or anything else (nor did our friends...who were also employed with full time jobs). Just because people smoke weed, doesn't make them robbers, rapists and/or murderers. But hey don't let a fact get in the way of your illogical thinking!!
Seriously do people like fedup2here and Geemoney...feel the same way about every store that sells liquor???
The time will come..when marijuana is completely legal in the US. The time will come when we end the wasteful taxpayers money on the war on drugs. Why?? It hasn't stopped people from using drugs and never ever will.
I'm also glad I don't live here anymore...the intelligence level of people living in Nevada...is not very high (no pun intended).
"police recovered 22 firearms at one suspected grow house..." "We're concerned about citizens caught in the crossfire."
The NRA, a patriotic, pro-freedom organization has fought heroically to make massive armament and ammunition caches in residential areas as easy to accumulate as brownies and ice cream.
Neighborhood armories are not created by marijuana growers. They result from laws which are passed to 'protect' the sidewalk patriots from being taken over by Government bullies. Ubiquitous gun markets are designed to ensure our liberties. Stockpiling of weapons is seen by the NRA as a indicator of a healthy Democracy. Complain to the NRA, not the smoke farmers supplying an economic niche.
Comment removed by moderator. Personal Attack
Meanwhile... A wonderful morning in Seattle today! Some Canadian Geese flying over the Space Needle - Some dogs playing in the park...People enjoying the famous Seattle coffee scene...A misty fog lifts at mid-morning...
And marijuana is 100% legal here! Yet, so far - nO pot zombies killing babies at the mall - No massive car accidents at the Stack - Cats are still running from the dogs... Refer madness debunked!
Legalize and tax it, end of story.
Ashley why don't you stop with the Reagan Bush crap. I never seen a picture of either one smoking pot, but I have seen one of Obama partaking.