Lakeland Man Faces Marijuana Charges

Wilbur

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Weed is popping up like, well, weeds these days.

For the second time in a week, Polk County law enforcement have busted a home-grown marijuana operation.

The Lakeland Police Department charged a man with growing 15 marijuana plants in his children's room. Officers also found 46 buds cut from the plants.

Joe F. Saenz, 24, of 719 W. Carver St., was arrested Monday and charged with felony counts of cultivation of marijuana, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and one misdemeanor count of drug paraphernalia possession.

Sgt. David Doty, of the department's Neighborhood Enforcement Team, which arrested Saenz, said he and his fellow officers were surprised at the amount of marijuana found in the home.

"We figured it would be maybe one or two plants," he said.

Police spokesman Jack Gillen said the drugs netted had a street value of about $10,000 to $15,000.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office had a similar bust last week. A Lakeland couple was arrested and deputies said they seized 18 marijuana plants that were being grown in a bathroom.

Gillen said the Neighborhood Enforcement Team was in Saenz's neighborhood in response to recent criminal activity there.

Doty said Officer Ricky Dubose smelled fresh-cut marijuana in the area. He said Dubose tracked the scent to Saenz's mobile home.

Officers found six children in the home. Doty said four were Saenz's children. The other two were the children of visitors, he said. The Department of Children and Families was contacted, and the children were turned over to relatives.


Newshawk: User - 420 Magazine
Source: The Ledger
Pubdate: 15 November 2006
Author: Andrew Dunn
Copyright: 2006 The Ledger
Contact: andrew.dunn@theledger.com
Website: Article Here
 
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