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Polk Deputies Bust 2 Marijuana Grow Houses, Arrest 3

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Kenneth Knight

Published: October 12, 2007

Erasmo Espinoza

LAKELAND – Polk County sheriff's deputies busted two marijuana grow houses in north Lakeland Thursday, made three arrests and took more than 600 plants off the street, authorities said.

The sheriff's office received information Thursday about the two suspected drug houses, a sheriff's release said. Undercover Polk County detectives and members of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force went to 1425 Hammock Shade Drive off Old Polk City Road and 8423 Tocoi Path off Kathleen Road to check out the tip.

Detectives found a four-room marijuana grow house on Hammock Shade Drive. They confiscated 328 mature marijuana plants with a value of $1.6 million, the release said. Each plant had the potential to yield about one pound of marijuana at a street value of $5,000 per pound.

Dunier Garcia

Investigators also seized paraphernalia used in grow operations and arrested two men who live there. Erasmo Espinoza, 54, and Dunier Garcia, 25, were arrested on charges of trafficking in cannabis more than 300 plants, cultivation of cannabis and maintaining a dwelling for drug use and sales, records show. They are being held without bond at the Polk County Jail.

At 8423 Tocoi Path, detectives found harvested marijuana in a box in the garage, authorities said. In addition, they found about $7,300, equipment, paraphernalia and paperwork.

Orelvis Calderson

Deputies arrested Orelvis Calderon, 39, on charges of conspiracy to traffick in cannabis – more than 300 plants, trafficking in cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also is being held without bond at the Polk County Jail.

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