Deputies with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Apple Valley Station got a surprise when they were sent to investigate a white pickup truck that had crashed into a home in the 14300 block of Navajo Road.
At approximately 6:50 a.m. Sunday, May 6, deputies received a call of a single-vehicle collision into a residence. Upon entering the residence to look for any possible casualties from the collision, deputies located an indoor marijuana cultivation operation.
No occupants were in the residence when deputies arrived to investigate the crash.
The Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division-Marijuana Enforcement Team was called to assist in the investigation and served a search warrant at the residence. Inside, investigators found over 900 marijuana plants, in various stages of growth, officials said in a statement.
“The grow operation used advanced lighting, air conditioning, fans, exhaust blowers and air filtering systems to control the climate inside the residence as well as the odor of marijuana coming from it,” the statement said.
Investigators also discovered electricity was being stolen in the home as the suspects bypassed the electrical meter installed by the electric company. Personnel from Southern California Edison assisted in the electrical theft situation.
Authorities said the measures used to illegally grow marijuana put neighbors in danger.
“An electrical short caused by the unpermitted electrical wiring most likely would have resulted in an explosion or fire in the residential community, causing possible injuries,” authorities said in the statement.
Power to the residence has been disconnected and deputies said the loss from the theft of electricity at the location will be several thousands of dollars.
Information on any suspects or if there were arrests was not immediately disclosed. It was unknown how many occupants were in the vehicle at the time of the crash.
