Police find $200,000 of marijuana plants at rental house

By Pashtana Usufzy

Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014 | 3:14 p.m.

A 35-year-old man was arrested today after police say they discovered about 100 marijuana plants valued at roughly $200,000 in his southwest Las Vegas rental house.

Metro Police Lt. Laz Chavez of the narcotics division said Robert Hoier of Las Vegas was arrested in connection with the indoor grow operation in the 6200 block of West Levi Avenue. Hoier was arrested on counts of possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and production of marijuana, Chavez said.

Chavez said police executed a search warrant about 11 a.m. based on a tip from an anonymous source.

Police found 98 marijuana plants and packaged, ready-to-sell marijuana in the home, Chavez said. The home sustained water and chemical damage and the electrical wiring had been altered, he said.

“This is a home; it’s a family residence. This is not a farm,” Chavez said.

Rebecca Scovill, who has lived in the neighborhood about eight years, said she never noticed any signs of a grow operation at the house.

“It’s just crazy to think that they could flip open the door and there it is,” she said.

Chavez said police were concerned about the proximity of the house to Desert Oasis High School, which is just down the street.

Scovill said her son attended Desert Oasis and she was more worried about the possibility of a fire or explosion than by the potential for marijuana being sold out the front door.

“I am grateful that Metro really figured this all out before something dangerous really happened,” she said.

This is the second such bust of an alleged grow house for Metro Police in the past week.