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Sophisticated pot cultivation leads to arrest
KEY WEST -- A local accountant was reportedly happy to finally have the
opportunity to show off his "science project" -- a sophisticated, costly
marijuana cultivation system.
The audience was quite interested, considering they were detectives from the
Key West Police Street Crimes Unit.
Mr. X, 45, of Key West, was charged with cultivation of marijuana and
possession of over 20 grams of marijuana Wednesday after detectives from
both the Key West Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office
Special Operations Unit said they discovered an advanced and active
marijuana-growing operation in Chapin's apartment.
Detectives said they discovered about 14 pounds of marijuana with a street
value of about $36,000.
A city worker, performing a survey for a sewer project, noticed some
marijuana plants in the side of a backyard off Hilton Haven Road, according
to police reports. He called Detective Frank Zamora of the Street Crimes
Unit to check out the situation.
Police arrived Mr. X's small apartment just as the self-employed
accountant was walking to the building. Marijuana plants inside were plainly
visible through the windows, Detective Pablo Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said Mr. X was very cooperative and led them into the apartment,
where Mr. X allegedly showed detectives about 50, 3-foot tall marijuana
plants growing amid heat lamps, power converters, irrigation systems and
other advanced hydroponic cultivation equipment valued at $8,000. Police say
Mr. X was also using a room in the apartment as an office.
He reportedly told Rodriguez "it all started as a science project that got
out of control."
Detectives described Mr. X's operation as very detailed, with scientific
labeling and meticulous record-keeping. Mr. X reportedly told detectives he
had all the marijuana he'd ever produced at an apartment he rented at a
complex on South Roosevelt Boulevard.
Detectives droveMr. X to that location, where he allegedly showed them
about five pounds of marijuana stuffed in 1-gallon trash bags and nine
additional pounds in 90 plastic bags. Police said they also found 113 bags
and 12 jars of marijuana seeds, all neatly labeled.
Mr. X was taken into custody and transported to the Monroe County Detention
Center.
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