Five arrested in Pueblo for unlawfully growing 250 marijuana plants

Pueblo County deputies arrested five people for illegally growing marijuana, the Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday.

In total, officers located nearly 250 marijuana plants, some almost nine-feet tall, after executing search warrants at five Pueblo County residences. The plants are valued at approximately $250,000.

With assistance from the DEA, the Sheriff’s Narcotics Detectives searched three homes in Pueblo West, one in Avondale, and one in Northern Pueblo County after receiving tips of possible illegal marijuana grow operations being conducted at those homes. All but one of the sites had active growing operations.

Colorado State law allows only 12 marijuana plants per home. The homes where active grows were found were in the 1100 Block of E. Gold Rush Lane, 1100 block of E. Buffalo Bill Lane, 800 block of S. Lupine Court in Pueblo West and the 49000 block of U.S. Highway 50 East in Avondale. The four homes where the grows were located have been condemned by Pueblo Regional Building due to extensive alterations made to the electrical systems.

“The fact we are still finding these types of illegal grows in our community demonstrates the Black Market is still operating in Pueblo County,” said Pueblo County Sheriff Kirk M. Taylor. “I want to thank our citizens who are reporting when they see any suspicious activity surrounding these illegal grow operations,” Taylor said.

Detectives located 82 mature plants from the home on Buffalo Bill Lane and arrested Denis Mahique, 48, and found 73 plants from the Gold Rush Lane residence and arrested Daylin Rodriguez, 28. At the Lupine Court home, 36 plants were found and one person, Jose Brigido, 55, was arrested. At the Avondale residence, 54 mature plants, some almost 9-feet tall, were seized and Carlos Garcia-Rodriguez, 56 and Mildrey Rabade Alfonso, 47, were arrested.