CHP officers discover marijuana grow following pursuit, crash
A marijuana growing facility was discovered in Huntington Park on Friday after a driver fleeing California Highway Patrol officers crashed into the building, authorities said.
The incident began about 1 a.m., when CHP officers attempted to pull over the driver of a white Volkswagen Jetta at Alameda Street and Florence Avenue. The driver, 29-year-old Arturo Estevez-Medina, had been speeding and driving erratically and led officers on a pursuit, said CHP Officer Robert Meyer.
At Alameda and Gage Avenue, the driver lost control and his vehicle struck a median and became airborne, crashing into a 10,000-square-foot commercial building, Meyer said. Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel freed the suspect from his car.
While the driver was being extricated, officers went inside the building and found between 700 and 800 marijuana plants. Evidence did not indicate that marijuana was being grown for medical purposes, Meyer said.
Estevez-Medina, who lives in Los Angeles, was taken to Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center with major injuries. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and evading police in a reckless manner.
No one has been arrested so far in connection with marijuana facility, Meyer said.
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