BIG POT OPERATION BUSTED IN ELK GROVE

Plants Limited To 2nd Floor Of Homes To Boost Secrecy.

Elk Grove police uncovered another network of marijuana-growing
houses dotting the city's suburban neighborhoods Wednesday, and
authorities said the targets of this operation had learned key
camouflage lessons from the busts of dozens of others over the past year.

As police raided 21 homes and confiscated more than 6,100 plants,
$200,000 in cash, 10 vehicles and sophisticated growing equipment,
investigators were struck by the amount of effort that had gone
toward disguising the operations.

Many of the houses had furnished living rooms and manicured lawns,
and some neighbors told police they had spoken with the people living
in the homes.

In one home on Marina Cove Circle, a shrine to Buddha hung on the
wall next to a massive fish tank holding more than a dozen goldfish.
Out front, the rose bushes had recently been pruned.

Upstairs, police said, they found 319 marijuana plants.

Authorities said the suspects behind the large operation busted last
year counted on anonymity in the suburbs, rarely showing their faces
and letting their lawns go dry. In the end, authorities said, that
kind of behavior only fueled curiosity by their neighbors, many of
whom tipped off police.

"They are adapting to what citizens would call in about," Elk Grove
police spokesman Chris Trim said. "As they adapt, we have to adapt."

In all, marijuana plants were found in 12 homes in Elk Grove, as well
as a home in Sacramento and another in Galt, police said. The
confiscated plants -- which are capable of four growing cycles a year
- -- could produce up to $24 million worth of pot, police said.

About 100 heavily armed officers kicked in doors and arrested 14
people, with some of the raids going down as children hopped off
school buses and parents returned home in minivans. And as was the
case in the takedown of 49 suspected pot houses in the region last
year and this year, a tip from a neighbor sparked the latest
investigation, starting 10 months ago.

"Some follow-up led to other individuals and other homes, which led
to more individuals and more homes," Trim said.

The similarities between the earlier operation -- which authorities
linked to an organized crime ring based in the Bay Area -- ended
there, police said.

All of the suspects arrested Wednesday live in the Sacramento area,
with most of them residing in Elk Grove, Trim said. Some of the
suspects had lived at least part time in the homes that were raided,
leaving behind newspapers and food, Trim said.

In the Bay Area-based operation, marijuana plants covered nearly
every foot of the homes raided, leaving little living space, police said.

The latest series of homes raided had marijuana being grown on the
second floor only, police said. Investigators suspect the tactic was
meant to hide the marijuana plants from neighbors.

That was the situation at a home raided on Brian Kelly Way, where
police said they hauled away 504 marijuana plants.

The front lawn of the two-story, tan-and-brown home was green and
well taken care of. Rosewood furniture -- some still covered in
protective plastic wrapping -- sat in the living room, and a
supermarket calendar hung in the front entry area.

After the marijuana plants had been taken out of the home and placed
in the rear of a Budget rental truck, construction workers boarded up
the windows to prevent people from breaking in, Trim said.

Residents on Brian Kelly Way said they didn't suspect the home was
used to grow marijuana.

"I thought it was empty," said Princess Daniels, who has lived on the
street for about a year.

Daniels said she was glad for the crackdown on the alleged pot homes.

"It's a nice neighborhood, and it should not be having these things
going on," she said.

On Marina Cove Circle, children rode their bicycles while their
parents stood in awe of the unfolding scene.

"Of course you hate to see anything like this happening in your
neighborhood, but at least the police are tracking it," said Jeff
Bickford, a neighbor.

The same factors that draw residents to move to suburban areas such
as Elk Grove also attract criminals, Trim said.

"The criminal element looks at locations where they can do their
activity undetected," he said. "For them, there's no better location
than a suburban area that's quiet and has low crime."

Elk Grove Mayor Jim Cooper commended the Police Department for the
time and thoroughness of their investigation.

"My hat goes off to our Police Department," he said.

Neither Cooper nor Councilman Michael Leary believe the pot homes
tarnish Elk Grove's image.

"I don't think so. It's one of those things in which people are in
the drug business to make money off other people's misery," Cooper
said. "This is a place they choose, and it shouldn't reflect
negatively on Elk Grove."