Brooksville man arrested on charges of marijuana grow house

BROOKSVILLE A man was arrested on charges of marijuana cultivation, possession and tampering with a utility meter Friday after deputies searched two Brooksville homes.

According to a Hernando County Sheriff’s report, a search of 5291 Drew St. and 14371 Bowie Road., both owned by Raul Izquierdo, 42, revealed an indoor marijuana cultivation operation and the remains of a grow operation.

The searches revealed approximately 58 plants, along with grow lights and other equipment used to grow marijuana. A search of Izquierdo’s Chevrolet S10 revealed a Merlin Firearms M/N 25 behind the seat.

According to the report, the remains of a grow operation were found at the house at Bowie Road, including grow lights and other equipment used for marijuana cultivation as well as a Raven Arms .25 caliber hand gun in the closet of the master bedroom and a High Point 9mm carbine behind a false wall.

The power at both locations was being diverted.

Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, which supplies electricity to the home, confirmed the power line had been tampered with, according to the report.

During his interview with authorities, Izquierdo said he committed the offenses, acknowledged he was a convicted felon and knew he was prohibited from owning firearms, deputies said.

Records show he was convicted of manslaughter in Miami Dade County in 1990.

Izquierdo was taken to the Hernando County Jail on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of drug paraphernalia, cultivation of marijuana, possession of a residence for the manufacture of a controlled substance and tampering with a utility meter. His bond was set at $47,000.