Open Warehouse Door Leads Police To Van Nuys Marijuana Growing Operation
VAN NUYS (CBSLA.com) — Los Angeles police discovered a large marijuana growing operation in an industrial warehouse Tuesday morning after someone left a door to the building ajar.
West Valley Division officers were first alerted to the grow around 5:15 a.m. when they responded to a radio call of an open door at a building in the 15800 block of Stagg Street, near the Van Nuys Airport, police said.
When officers arrived at the Mission Industrial Park, they noticed a strong smell of marijuana coming from inside the warehouse.
Officers initially feared that the warehouse was booby-trapped and the bomb squad was called in, officials said.
"One of the members of the entry team was a US Marine. He moved up and took a look at that location and said he wasn't comfortable with entering in that door," Lt. Don Graham said.
A handle of the door looked altered and had wires sticking out of it, according to Graham.
No explosives were found after a robot swept the property, but police did discover an undisclosed amount of marijuana growing in the building.
Police are waiting on a warrant to search a home that may be connected to the marijuana grow.
No further details were released.
