Police Bust Numerous Marijuana-growing Houses

Police officers were busy in August closing down numerous houses that were converted into marijuana-growing facilities.

• On Aug. 4, officers received a tip that a house in the 2700 block of 40th Avenue was being used as a pot farm. They set up surveillance and noticed several individuals loading full plastic bags into the back of a truck. As the officers approached, they could smell the strong scent of marijuana. After getting a search warrant, numerous officers entered the premises and found marijuana, methamphetamine, crack cocaine and a loaded gun. Electricity to fuel the enterprise was illegally routed from a nearby utility pole. Several suspects, who live on the premises and in Daly City, Pacifica and Campbell, were arrested.

• On Aug. 5, police officers served a search warrant and confiscated hundreds of marijuana plants at a house at 34th Avenue and Lawton Street.

• Also on Aug. 5, at 7:09 p.m., officers returned to the scene of an earlier house farm in the 200 block of Ortega Street that had come to light after a fire. Someone had removed a wood covering on one of the windows and was attempting to remove automatic timers, lights, air conditioning unit and other materials from the house. The suspect, who is on probation from San Mateo County and was wanted on a felony theft charge from the Fresno County Sheriffs Department, was arrested for burglary and the outstanding warrant.

• On Aug. 8, at 5:48 p.m., more than 300 plants and suspected hashish were discovered in a house in the 2000 block of 41st Avenue after officers developed leads on the street. Two suspects, who live at the address, were arrested on multiple charges.

• On Aug. 12, at 2:21 p.m., officers got a tip about a marijuana-growing operation in the 2000 block of 32nd Avenue and set up surveillance. When a man exited the house, it was determined that he was a felon on parole from San Mateo and he was in possession of marijuana. A search warrant was obtained and a subsequent search revealed about 200 plants and suspected cocaine. The electricity to the house had been bypassed and a shotgun and ammunition was found. Two other suspects in the house were arrested and booked.

• On Aug. 19, another grow house was discovered after a search warrant was executed in the 1700 block of 18th Avenue. Inside, officers found a "major growing operation" with dried plants, hashish and a firearm. Electricity had been bypassed. The suspect, who lives in the 2000 block of 35th Avenue, was arrested on multiple charges after his home was also searched.

• On Aug. 20, at 11:52 a.m., officers received a complaint from a citizen and investigated. After getting a search warrant from the Superior Court, they went inside a home in the 1800 block of 34th Avenue and discovered numerous plants and growing infrastructure. The suspects, who live on 34th Avenue and Page Street, were arrested on three felony charges.

• On Aug. 27, officers detained two suspects outside a house in the 2500 block of 22nd Avenue. After getting a search warrant, a large-scale operation was discovered with numerous plants and suspected methamphetamines. One suspect was arrested on numerous felony charges and the other, who lives in Florida, was cited for possession of marijuana.

The discovery of marijuana-growing operations has accelerated the past several months. From February to July, there were 16 operations discovered in the Sunset.