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Highlands Today

Sheriff's Office Busts Growhouse No. 60

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By Joe  Seelig | Highlands Today

Published: December 14, 2007

SEBRING — Sheriff's detectives needed a keen sense of smell and sharp ears Wednesday to locate a marijuana growhouse operation, the 60th growhouse raided in the county since November 2006.

A strong marijuana smell and the sound of growhouse electrical equipment led to the arrest of a Sebring man and woman in connection with the alleged operation at 8460 Tubbs Ranch Road, in Sebring, off of U.S. 98.

Ismari Lazo-Ramis, 41, and Damian Garcia Rodriguez, 34, who authorities say are renting the house, remained in Highlands County Jail in lieu of $261,500 bond each on Thursday after they were charged.

Sheriff's Capt. Randy LaBelle said detectives John Singha and Jared Futch with the Special Investigations Unit, approached the house.

When detectives spoke with Lazo-Ramis at her front door, Singha smelled a "strong odor" of marijuana, he wrote in a report. .

"I have become familiar with the smell of fresh cannabis plants during the investigation of numerous grow operations," he added.

Futch was given permission by a neighbor to enter their property directly north of 8460 Tubbs Ranch Road. Futch, too, could smell the pungent odor of pot and heard the sound of electrical equipment.

Confronted with the detectives' suspicions, Lazo-Ramis gave her permission to search the property, the report stated.

The marijuana grow operation was located in a detached two-car garage in the rear of the property. Detectives found 127 mature plants in trash bags and about 15 clones.

"They were kind enough to harvest them," LaBelle quipped.

The amount of marijuana collected should come to well over 100 pounds, he said.

Using the average of $4,000 value per mature plant, the crop would have fetched about $508,000, according to past reports.

Each was charged with possession of narcotics equipment, marijuana production, trafficking in marijuana more then 25 pounds, and grand theft $20,000 or more but less than $100,000.

Lazo-Ramis told authorities her boyfriend was at work. When detectives tried to open the door to the growhouse, Rodriguez had locked himself inside, LaBelle said.

"We had to make a forced entry," LaBelle said.

Once detectives were inside the man surrendered without a struggle. No weapons were found. However, two vehicles and a undisclosed amount of cash was seized along with the usual growhouse equipment.

The sheriff's office had to rent its 11th storage unit to contain the new evidence collected in the bust, LaBelle said. That evidence included ballasts, grow lights, irrigation equipment, air conditioners, a propane carbon dioxide generator, two heat pumps, timers and hoods.

A representative from Progress Energy estimated the growhouse diverted about $42,000 in electricity. The house was purchased in May of 2006, LaBelle said. It was not clear when the couple rented the house.

LaBelle said sheriff's detectives Singha, Futch and Sharon Pridgeon received a tip of a growhouse (No. 59) at 103 Farrall Road, in Placid Lakes.

"It was already dismantled, but there was enough evidence there to confirm it was a grow," LaBelle said. "The house was trashed and (the case) is currently under investigation."

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