Rita L. Gallo-Cabrera

A Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy garnered information from an arrestee that marijuana was being produced or sold out of a residence at 1317 Prospect Ave., according to officials.

Detectives, along with the East District Selective Enforcement Team, conducted surveillance and noticed a strong odor of raw marijuana emanating from the home.

On Sept. 28, Rita L. Gallo-Cabrera, 25, was stopped while leaving the residence and subsequently arrested for possession of marijuana over 20 grams.

She told detectives that there was a man inside the residence.

After numerous attempts to make contact with the man with negative results, a search warrant was prepared and executed.

LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE The Lee County Sheriff’s Office busted a grow house operation on Sept. 28 at 1317 Prospect Ave. Baldemar Ojeda Hernandez, 32, and Rita L. Gallo-Cabrera, 25, were both arrested and charged.

A search of the home revealed an elaborate marijuana cultivation operation, with a total of 126 plants weighing 87.2 pounds inside of two rooms. An additional 5 pounds of loose marijuana was located.

Baldemar Ojeda Hernandez, 32, had taken flight into the attic crawl space in the garage in an effort to elude arrest.

Deputies located Hernandez and had to physically extract him after numerous commands to surrender were ignored.

Hernandez had in his possession a backpack containing $8,440, personal paperwork including a passport and provisions to help him “wait out” deputies at the residence in order to elude arrest.

The $8,440 was seized and is pending civil forfeiture hearings.

LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE The Lee County Sheriff’s Office busted a grow house operation on Sept. 28 at 1317 Prospect Ave. Baldemar Ojeda Hernandez, 32, and Rita L. Gallo-Cabrera, 25, were both arrested and charged.

Hernandez was arrested for cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana over 20 grams, renting a structure to traffic drugs and resisting without violence.

Source: Lee County Sheriff’s Office

LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE The Lee County Sheriff’s Office busted a grow house operation on Sept. 28 at 1317 Prospect Ave. Baldemar Ojeda Hernandez, 32, and Rita L. Gallo-Cabrera, 25, were both arrested and charged.

LEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Grow house operation found on Sept. 28 at 1317 Prospect Ave.