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SPRING VALLEY LAKE – Deputies located an over 500 plant indoor marijuana grow in the Spring Valley Lake community on Wednesday morning.

At around 9:30 a.m. the Sheriff’s Gangs and Narcotics Division served a search warrant on the home located at 18255 Lakeview Drive. When they entered the home, an unidentified suspect fled out the back door of the home. Despite an area search, the suspect was not located.

Over 500 plants in various stages were located inside of the home, which had an elaborate operation with advanced lighting, air conditioning, and fans to produce the best climate for the marijuana plants to flourish. They home also had exhaust blowers and an air filtering system in order to control odors coming from the home. In order to conceal the indoor marijuana cultivation, the suspect was stealing a large amount of electricity by bypassing the Southern California Edison (SCE) installed electrical meter.

SCE also responded to the scene to assist in the electrical theft portion of the investigation. “The high usage may alert the utility company or law enforcement to the marijuana grow,” San Bernardino County Sheriff’s officials said. “Additionally, the suspects do not get charged for the high amount of electricity being used.”

Electrical power to the home was disconnected so that the faulty wiring and electrical bypass can be removed/repaired. The theft of utilities is believed to be several thousand dollars. MET is attempting to identify and locate the suspect who fled from investigators, as well as the property owner if they are not one and the same. Once the suspect(s) are identified the criminal case will be sent to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or is urged to contact the Sheriff’s Gangs/Narcotics Division at (909) 387-8400. Callers wishing to remain anonymous are urged to call the We-tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or you may leave information on the We-Tip Hotline at www.wetip.com.