Fire Leads Officials to Marijuana Operation
Los Angeles firefighters battling a blaze in a house Tuesday night found more than just smoke.
While searching the one-story home in the 11500 block of Addison Street, firefighters discovered a marijuana-growing operation. At least 275 plants, at various stages of growth and drying, were found throughout the house, said Det. Norm Lee of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Valley Narcotics Division.
Police arrested the homeowner, Rainer Scholz, 42, on suspicion of cultivating marijuana, Lee said. The North Hollywood man was held at the Van Nuys jail in lieu of $50,000 bail.
Det. Tony Manente said the indoor growing system, called a hydroponic lab, required extensive and space-consuming lighting, irrigating and venting systems.
“Apparently a light shorted in the back room and caused the fire,” Manente said.
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