Cannabis Grow Take Down NR18220dm

August 16, 2018

Panorama City: On August 12,
2018, at 3:50 a.m., Mission Division patrol officers received a
radio call of a burglary in progress in the 13000 block of Saticoy
Street in Panorama City. When officers arrived, six suspects were
detained. While completing a search of the location for additional
suspects, the officers observed a large size cannabis grow within
the commercial building. The six individuals were booked for
459(a)PC-Commercial Burglary. Five of the six arrestees have
extensive criminal backgrounds and have gang affiliations.

During the investigation, it was determined the location does not
have a legal Department of Cannabis Enforcement permit to cultivate
marijuana. Mission’s Narcotics Enforcement Detail, Safer Cities
Initiative, and patrol officers followed up and served a search
warrant at the location and recovered over 600 pounds of cannabis
in various stages of cultivation. The cannabis has an estimated
value of over $750,000.

Mission Area’s Commanding Officer Captain Natalie Cortez said, “The
City of Los Angeles has a very clear process for obtaining a permit
for legal cannabis grow. This location was operating in an illegal
and clandestine manner. It’s these types of illegal unpermitted
locations that infiltrate our communities by bringing in crime.
Mission Area is dedicated to enforcing these types of illegal
locations to keep our neighborhoods safe.”

If you have any information regarding illegal marijuana operations
in Mission Division, please call (818) 838-9300. During
non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to
1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous
should call the LA Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS
(800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters
may also visit ww.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips”
under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an
onlinetip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile
application and select the LA Regional Crime Stoppers as their
local program.