Alpharetta Police Seize $850,000 in Marijuana from Rental Home

 An open garage door led to Alpharetta police officers finding a large marijuana growing operation inside of a rental house on Waters Run Drive on June 13. After a search of the home, they seized 188 pounds of marijuana with a street value of $850,000 from the unoccupied home.

The 911 Dispatch Center of the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety received a call at 7 p.m. about an open garage door at the home. When officers arrived, they saw the home was not secured, so they began to check to make sure no crime was being committed.

"Upon checking the residence to ensure there was no unlawful activity, Alpharetta police officers stumbled upon a large professional grow operation involving marijuana," said George Gordon, spokesman for the department, in a release sent out today, June 19.

The officers got a search warrant and began investigating.

A search of the residence showed it had no furniture on the main level and had been structurally altered. Holes were made through three floors of hardwood flooring and into the ceiling areas. Industrial ductwork had been installed from the basement to the top floor. Foam insulation had been placed against the walls.  Elaborate electrical and watering systems had been installed. The suspect even appeared to have stolen electrical power, as the home's meter was bypassed.

All of this was done to support the numerous marijuana plants found in various growth stages in many rooms. Much of that apparently stolen electricity was used to power artificial lighting from dozens of large refractor lamps. 

Detectives assigned to the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety Special Intelligence Unit conducted the search and investigation, finding more than 250 marijuana plants that were confiscated. The evidence was taken to the department's evidence building.

The investigation revealed the owner of the home had no idea what was going on at the rental property. Detectives have identified a person of interest and the investigation continues.