Modesto man arrested after marijuana operation shut down in Dos Palos

Dos Palos police literally sniffed out an illegal marijuana garden operation Tuesday night worth an estimated value of more than $1 million on the streets and arrested one man from Modesto, Police Chief Barry Mann said.

Police were patrolling in the 1300 block of Ida Street about 8:30 p.m. when they smelled a strong marijuana odor coming from one of the homes, Mann said.

When officers knocked on the door, 55-year-old Marcelo Lara, of Modesto, answered. Lara cooperated with police and let them in the three bedroom home before he was detained and a search warrant was served, Mann said.

Officers found a total of about 550 marijuana plants in the home.

The owner of the home told officers Lara moved in and began paying rent around January. The owner of the home believed a family would be living in the residence. Police found no evidence of anyone besides Lara staying at the home. The only traces of someone living in the residence were two mattresses and some personal belongings in the living room.

Investigators said Lara tapped into the PG&E power line, bypassing the meter, to operate the large-scale garden. He also installed a new electrical panel inside the home, which is common in illegal marijuana operations, Mann said.

Police seized about $60,000 worth of lighting, cooling equipment and timers used to operate the garden. The estimated street value of the marijuana was about $1,100,000, Mann said.

Officers believe Lara is connected to a criminal organization and are seeking other suspects involved with the operation, including one person who may recently have been released from Merced County Jail, Mann said.

Lara remains in the John Latoracca Correctional Center on $45,000 bail. He was booked on suspicion of marijuana cultivation, conspiracy, vandalism and possession of marijuana with the intent of sales, jail records show.

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 9:58 AM with the headline "Modesto man arrested after marijuana operation shut down in Dos Palos."