Man arrested after pot grow found in burning houseBy Karl FischerWest County TimesArticle Launched: 05/22/2008 04:18:15 PM PDT
Authorities clearing 300 marijuana plants out of a burned house in Crockett ran into the tenant Thursday morning, resulting in an arrest and the confiscation of a new, 30-foot stretch limousine.
The Crockett Carquinez Fire District answered a house fire call about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday on the first block of Rolph Park Drive. Firefighters found the house burning, Contra Costa sheriff's spokesman Jimmy Lee said.
While extinguishing the blaze, they also found some marijuana plants growing inside and summoned deputies, who found that most of the house had been converted into an indoor growing facility. Deputies found about 200 growing plants and about 100 more being processed and prepared for sale.
On Thursday morning, while deputies documented and bagged the contraband, a 30-foot stretch limo with paper plates rolled up to the house, Lee said.
The driver and tenant of the house, 31-year-old Casey Saul, approached and, after deputies identified him as the cultivator of the drugs, was taken County Jail in Martinez, Lee said.
He remained there Thursday evening in lieu of $120,000 bail, arrested on suspicion of cultivating marijuana for sale, possessing drugs and theft of a utility, as the operation's electrical hookups bypassed the meter.
Deputies confiscated the car, Lee said.
Reach Karl Fischer at 510-262-2728 or kfischer@bayareanewsgroup.com.
