Man arrested in marijuana bust Police arrested...

Man arrested in marijuana bust

Police arrested a Laguna Beach resident Tuesday after finding 81

marijuana plants growing in his apartment at around 10 a.m. in the

200 block of San Tropez Court.

Joseph Uribe, a 22-year-old telemarketer, told police he was

growing the marijuana for medicinal purposes. The plants’ street

value was more than $150,000, Sgt. Darin Lenyi said.

“It was a one-bedroom apartment,” Lenyi said. “The bedroom and

walk-in closet were entirely devoted to growing marijuana. Basically,

more of the apartment was being used to grow marijuana than anything

else.”

The seized plants were medium-size and grown in a sophisticated

manner. Even the apartment’s stove was being used as a source of

electricity for the number of fans and lamps in the two rooms, Lenyi

said.

Uribe was arrested on on suspicion of cultivating marijuana, a

felony, and taken to Orange County jail, where he’s being held on

$25,000 bail.

Detectives went to Uribe’s home Tuesday after receiving an

anonymous tip. Police removed the plants and confiscated the growing

equipment, which was booked as evidence in the case.

-- Mike Swanson