Deputy With Nose For Narcotics Busts Same Suspect Twice For Large-Scale Pot Operations
LAKE LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy has a nose for narcotics, busting the same suspect twice in four months for cultivation of marijuana.
Deputy White was patrolling in the Lake Los Angeles area Wednesday when he noticed two large wooden enclosures in the desert north of Avenue E, sheriff's officials said.
"He could see that the walls of the enclosures were constructed of plywood and the roof was covered with shade cloth and each of the enclosures appeared to be roughly 100 feet by 50 feet," officials said in a statement.
The enclosure caught his attention because he found a similar structure in June that housed a marijuana growing operation six miles away in the 13400 block of East Avenue H, officials said.
White arrested Abdul Jamar, 36, who was charged with cultivation of marijuana.
On Wednesday, White saw Jamar again, this time exiting one of the enclosures off Avenue E.
"Deputy White said when he called for Suspect Jamar to come to the fence. Jamar looked at him and said I guess I'm in trouble again," officials said.
Jamar was again arrested for cultivation of marijuana.
Investigators discovered nearly 1,000 mature marijuana plants growing in the enclosures, a majority of them between 6 and 8 feet tall and producing over a pound of pot each, officials said.
The plants, which were cut down and destroyed by the U.S. Forest Service, had an estimated street value of $3 million to $4 million.
Jamar is being held at the Lancaster Sheriff's Station Jail.
