POLICE REPORT MARIJUANA CROP IN BASEMENT, HIDDEN ACCESS LIFT BERKELEY -- About 15 pounds of packaged marijuana, 290 marijuana plants, assault rifles and pistols were seized from an attorney's home Friday by Oakland narcotics officers. The attorney, Michael Moore, 56, who specializes in criminal defense, was stopped and arrested as he was driving away in his Mercedes from his split-level hillside home in the 1100 block of Glen Avenue in Berkeley. Most of the packaged marijuana was in the garage, police said. The marijuana plants were found in a basement under the kitchen, accessible by what police described as a hidden lift. Police also found cocaine and hashish in the home. The packaged marijuana is worth at least $130,000 on the street and police believe Moore was selling it, Sgt. Bruce Brock said. Scales were found in the home and a safe yielded $4,000 in cash, police said. Police found documents at the house indicating the marijuana was for medicinal purposes. But officers said what was found "far surpassed any legitimate amount" for just medicinal use. Additionally, police said they found 14 weapons, including assault rifles and assault pistols, a "street sweeper" shotgun able to fire multiple rounds, two silencers for one of the assault pistols, and a bullet-proof vest. Narcotics Officer Jim Beere said he thinks the guns were mainly for protection "from other dealers, robbers and maybe some of his clients." Moore was booked at the Oakland City Jail on suspicion of nine felony drug and weapons charges. His bail was set at $290,000. The 8 a.m. raid ended a two-month Oakland police investigation headed by Beere, who developed information Moore allegedly had illegal weapons and a "marijuana grow" at his home. Beere said 15 pounds of the marijuana was in half-pound packages. The plants were in different stages of growth, some as high as 5 feet, and were in a variety of pots. The basement contained track lighting on timers and a special ventilation system, Beere said. The plants were watered by hand with a hose. Beere said one of the ways Moore allegedly gained access to the basement was by a hidden elevator from the kitchen. He said carpet covered a portion of the linoleum floor, underneath which was an electronically operated elevator that could hold two people. Beere said the guns were found hidden in closets and file cabinets throughout the house. A half-ounce of powder cocaine and 12 grams of suspected hashish were also found in various parts of the house. Police said Moore recently moved his practice from an office on Eighth Street, a block away from Oakland police headquarters, to his house. According to State Bar Association records, he has been a practicing attorney since May 1973 and has no current disciplinary problems. He has represented a wide variety of clients over the years, including the Hell's Angels. One of his current clients is Paul Sonsken, a man Oakland police described as a "survivalist." Sonsken was arrested Sept. 27 after police found a cache of weapons, ammunition and drugs hidden behind secret panels and floor coverings throughout his home in the 2300 block of San Pablo Avenue. Moore is expected to be arraigned Tuesday in Alameda County Superior Court.
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