A man was being held in lieu of a $75,000 bond Saturday at the El Monte jail after police seized more than 3,300 marijuana plants worth about $750,000 from a commercial business.
Detectives served a search warrant at 7 a.m. Friday at 2645 Merced Ave., according to Sgt. Richard Luna of the El Monte Police Department.
In addition to the growing plants and equipment used for cultivating them, they also seized 303 pounds of cured marijuana, methamphetamine and a loaded firearm, he said.
“Further investigation revealed that numerous types of hazardous chemicals used in the production of the concentrated cannabis, commonly known as `honey oil’ or `wax,’ was present and posed a risk to detectives and anyone working in the facility,” Luna said.
“As a result, the location was vacated and additional investigators from the LA Impact Narcotics Team and Los Angeles County Hazardous Materials responded. An additional investigation was completed as well as a cleanup which rendered the property safe. No one was injured in the investigation.”
The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Brian Lee Skipper of Walnut, was arrested and booked on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, operating an illegal chemical lab, possession of methamphetamine for sale, theft of utility services and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Luna said.
Skipper was on probation at the time of his arrest but Luna did not disclose why.
[symple_googlemap title=”Marijuana bust” location=”2645 Merced Ave., El Monte, Ca” height=”300″ zoom=”13″]
–City News Service