Warrants Served, Arrest Made at Medical Marijuana Dispensary NR12368kr

Los Angeles:   Detectives from Topanga Area Narcotics Enforcement Detail (NED) served search warrants Wednesday afternoon at a medical marijuana dispensary and a private residence in the west San Fernando Valley that resulted in one arrest, recovery of a cache of narcotics, money, and other evidence of illegal drug sales.  

On August 1, 2012, around 1:00 p.m., Topanga Area Narcotics Enforcement Detail detectives served simultaneous search warrants at a commercial marijuana dispensary in the 23000 block of Ventura Boulevard and a single family residence in the 23100 block of Leonora Drive.

The warrants were obtained after an extensive investigation into the illegal sales of marijuana from the dispensary. One Los Angeles resident, 23-year-old Michael Paul Hodges, was arrested for Possession for Sales of Marijuana and booked at Valley Jail Section. He is being held on $20,000 bail. Investigators will be seeking an arrest warrant for an additional suspect who was not present during the service of the warrants.

Investigators recovered approximately $10,000 in cash from the dispensary.  Additional items taken into evidence at both the dispensary and residence included approximately 50 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $150,000 and a pound of hashish, also known as concentrated cannabis.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Topanga Area Narcotics Enforcement Detail Detectives, Detective Tim Grabe at 818-756-4850.  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 Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone.  All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.”  Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.