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Crime & Safety

Napa Man Arrested for Growing Pot, Stealing Power

Investigators with the Napa Special Investigations Bureau discovered the growing operation Thursday in the 300 block of Silverado Trail after watching Cristobal Castanon, 35, open the warehouse doors, Lt. Thomas Commander said.

 

Napa County investigators have uncovered an indoor marijuana growing operation in a warehouse building on Silverado Trail with more than 300 plants.

Investigators with the Napa Special Investigations Bureau discovered the growing operation Thursday in the 300 block of Silverado Trail after watching Cristobal Castanon, 35, open the warehouse doors, Lt. Thomas Commander said.

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Detectives, who knew Castanon from previous contacts, contacted him and observed a strong smell of marijuana coming from inside, Commander said.

After obtaining a search warrant, they uncovered more than 300 plants in an industrial-type growing operation using more than 40 high-intensity grow lamps, six industrial carbon filters, four air conditioning units and 16 fans.

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The operation bypassed the electricity meter, and PG&E estimated the value of stolen electricity at thousands of dollars, Commander said.

There have been two PG&E transformer explosions in the area in the past week that caused power outages in East Napa.

Castanon, a Napa resident, was arrested on suspicion of possession of marijuana for sale, cultivation of marijuana and felony utility theft.

By Bay City News Service.

Who's on the Most Wanted list? Find out and see the latest mug shots on our Most Wanted topic page: napa.patch.com/topics/most-wanted.

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