Sheriff’s deputies Saturday seized more than 4,700 marijuana plants and the equipment used to grow them at two San Jacinto homes in separate investigations, authorities said.
Deputies served a search warrant about 10:15 a.m. at a home in the 200 block of Pomegranate Street, Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Julio Olguin said.
“During the service of the warrant, approximately 2,000 marijuana plants at various stages of growth were located in eight makeshift grow rooms within the residence,” Olguin said. Deputies also collected 50 lamps with ballasts, 34 fans and packaging.
A Southern California Edison representative also located an alleged illegal electrical bypass underneath the electrical meter, the sergeant said. Edison estimated the theft of utilities at $33,000.
No suspects were located at the house, he said.
At 3:57 p.m., deputies investigated a possible illegal grow house in the 700 block of Sweet Clover Loop, Olguin said.
“As this incident was being investigated, a vehicle left the target residence,” he said. “San Jacinto deputies conducted a vehicle stop and found additional evidence related to a marijuana grow.”
Meifeng Chen, 40, of Arcadia was detained leaving the residence and taken to the Larry Smith Correctional facility, where he was booked for suspicion of theft of utilities, marijuana cultivation and sale.
Both investigations were ongoing, Olguin said.