By Khalida Sarwari
Santa Cruz police seized nearly 100 marijuana plants and about 20 pounds of processed and dried marijuana product from an auto repair shop on Thursday.
Officers served a search warrant at Good Guys Diesel and Bio-Mechanics, located at 1191 Water St., around 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, according to police.
Inside the business, they allegedly found nearly 100 plants and about 20 pounds of processed and dried marijuana product. The officers also found equipment, including grow lights, ventilation systems and a drying room.
Police believe the operation was in mid-harvest and that the facility had the potential to produce higher volumes of marijuana.
The business is located a block away from a public middle school and a few hundred feet away from a daycare center, according to police.
The investigation began after residents in the neighborhood tipped off police to a possible illegal marijuana grow operation at the business.
Employees told officers that the diesel and bio-mechanics business was separate from the marijuana grow operation, but officers found evidence to suggest otherwise, according to police.
They have not yet been able to locate the business owner.
Officers are looking for the owner and investigating the business’ financial records.
Two people in connection with the business were arrested but were later released.
The building was shut down because of illegal construction and electrical wiring violations, according to police.