Detectives with the Narcotics Section of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Special Investigations Division, arrested four men and shut down two grow house operations on Wednesday, July 1. The day began with surveillance of a suspected residence at 3012 6th Street West in Lehigh Acres, investigators said. By the end of the day, authorities had seized marijuana work $300,000 on the streets.

The homeowner, Jose Carlos Duran Alvarez, 42, was subsequently contacted and an elaborate marijuana cultivation operation was confirmed, investigators said. They reported that they discovered 24 large plants in the home. Duran Alvarez has been charged with trafficking in marijuana, marijuana cultivation and possession of marijuana producing equipment.

Detectives set up surveillance at a second location, 13280 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Lehigh Acres. A maroon colored PT Cruiser was parked in the garage of the residence, investigators said. A short time later the vehicle pulled out of the garage, down the driveway and onto the road.

A detective began to follow the car, which was occupied by two male subjects later identified as Lazaro Medina (the driver, who is 43, and Leonardo Alfaro (the passenger, 46. The PT Cruiser suddenly accelerated and almost struck an oncoming vehicle, investigators said.

Due to the driver’s actions nearby patrol and narcotics units were alerted. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office Aviation Unit arrived in the area as attempts began to conduct a traffic stop of the reckless driver. The vehicle eventually was stopped near the intersection of Larkwood Avenue and Anjaco Court. Both occupants were detained.

Two large bags of processed marijuana, weighing 40 pounds were located about 50 yards north of the traffic stop with fresh tire tracks consistent with those of the PT Cruiser, detectives said. Coupled with remnants of fresh clipped marijuana in the back of the vehicle both the driver and passenger were arrested. Medina was charged with fleeing and eluding, reckless driving and trafficking in marijuana. Alfaro was charged with trafficking in marijuana.

A return to the suspected grow house on Sleepy Hollow Lane resulted in the arrest of resident Josue Martinez, 34. Inside his house were four rooms used to grow marijuana and 40 mature plants were seized, investigators said. Three of the rooms appeared to have been recently dismantled (the marijuana located on aforementioned traffic stop). Martinez was charged with trafficking in marijuana, marijuana cultivation and possession of marijuana producing equipment.

The accused have been booked into the Lee County Jail.