900 Pot Plants, Drugs, Weapon Found In SWR Busts: Cops

MURRIETA, CA — Two men and a woman were arrested Monday in raids at two illegal marijuana grow operations in an unincorporated area of Riverside County near Murrieta, the sheriff's department reported. Both of the illegal grows were inside residential homes in the area, according to the agency.

Deputies served the first search warrant at a home in the 30100 block of Slate Street at 9:40 a.m. after "conducting a month’s long investigation regarding the illegal cultivation of marijuana at a single family home in a residential neighborhood," according to Sgt. J. Wade of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Once authorities were inside the home, they located more than 400 marijuana plants inside, as well as illegal modifications that had been made to the home's electrical panel so the growers could steal electricity, according to Wade.

Two suspects, identified as Li Jinhai, 54, and Zheng Yuxiang, 49, both of Lawrenceville, Georgia, were arrested and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center on suspicion of felony theft of utilities, conspiracy, illegal cultivation of marijuana and felony vandalism, Wade said. Booking records were not immediately available for the two.

Hours later, a second search warrant was served by deputies at 1 p.m. at a home in the 30200 block of Heritage Street.

"Upon serving the search warrant, deputies located more than 500 marijuana plants, cocaine, high capacity magazines and a firearm," Wade said. "In addition, hazardous illegal modifications had been made to the residential electrical panel which allowed the theft of electricity to occur."

Deputies arrested Christopher Reyes, 25, who was at the residence at the time the warrant was served. He was booked on suspicion of possession of narcotics with a firearm, felony theft of utilities, conspiracy and illegal cultivation of marijuana, Wade said.

Reyes' city of residence was not disclosed. He posted $26,000 bail and was released from custody the same day of his arrest, booking records show.

It was unclear if the two operations were connected.

— City News Service contributed to this report