06/17/13
Palmdale Deputy Brandon Barclay was on routine patrol when he checked the license plate of a car parked at the location to determine the vehicle's registration status. The license plate "returned" with a felony warrant for narcotics possession for Suspect Edgar Damian at the same location.
Deputy Barclay summoned additional deputies and approached the front door to contact the occupants and search for Mr. Damian. They found the front door open and smelled the strong odor of fresh marijuana. The deputies noticed the intensity of the odor as indicative of previous "grow houses" they had encountered.
Upon the arrival of a sergeant, who had been summoned previously, the deputies entered the house, both to look for the warrant suspect and to secure the location.
They discovered every room in the house, including the garage, had been converted to a sophisticated indoor, hydroponic "grow" of approximately 630 marijuana plants. They discovered the two suspects tending to plants in a rear room. Due to the noise of the ventilation equipment, they had not heard the deputies calling out as they entered and secured the location. The deputies obtained a search warrant and then continued with confiscation of the plants and growing equipment.
The plants have a potential production value of over one million dollars.
The suspect said they began the operation approximately three months ago. They said they had not sold any marijuana to date, but were beginning the first harvest for sale. The suspects have also been charged with theft of electricity as they had redirected the incoming power, bypassing the meter.
The suspects are being held at Palmdale Station.
The Palmdale Station Narcotics crew will follow up on the investigation.
Prepared by Lieutenant K. F. Wright
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