Local Police Carry Out Pot Bust

SOUTH GATE (CNS) - Police who raided a South Gate wood-working shop that was consuming an unusually large amount of electricity found a marijuana- growing operation inside, a lieutenant said today.

South Gate police raided the business in the 10000 block of Dolores Avenue last Thursday and seized 446 marijuana plants, Lt. Darren Arakawa said.

According to Arakawa, four rooms in the business were equipped with air filtration systems, light fixtures, purifiers, water pumps, climate control systems, high intensity lights and other paraphernalia commonly used by pot growers.

The business owner admitted he knew about the plants, but claimed they belonged to someone he met about a month ago, the lieutenant said.

Arakawa said the man was not immediately arrested, but investigators were consulting with county prosecutors. He said detectives believe there are "additional conspirators.''