Deputies: Barefoot pot-grower flees through window, cactus patch


Published: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 12:40 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 12:40 p.m.

By Karen Voyles
Staff writer

An undocumented alien jumped out a window and escaped during a raid Tuesday night on a marijuana grow house in Levy County. Another undocumented alien was arrested in connection with the $100,000 operation.

Alionay Hernandez, 34, of Miami, was arrested and charged with cultivation of marijuana, manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana and maintaining a drug dwelling, according to the Levy County Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force Unit. The other suspect, identified as Jesus Lopez, 34, of Chiefland, reportedly jumped out a window and fled. Task force members said Lopez was bare-chested and in his bare feet when he was last seen in a pair of khaki shorts jumping two of fences and running across a field dotted with prickly pear cactus plants.

Two canine search teams and Marion County Sheriff’s Office helicopter team failed to find Lopez.

Task force members said the grow house at 5550 N.W. 90th Ave. outside Chiefland was in operation for at least five months. The task force confiscated 62 mature marijuana plants from the home, which had a street value of $62,000. A 2007 Chevrolet van and 2006 Nissan pickup and other items were also seized during the raid.

According to the task force, Lopez and Hernandez are natives of Cuba who have been arrested in Fort Lauderdale for reportedly being in the United States illegally.

The Levy County Sheriff’s Office is offering a reward for information and arrest of Lopez. Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff's office at 352-486-5111.




http://www.gainesville.com/article/2009 ... ctus-patch