Subsidized home used as pot garden

Santa Rosa narcotics officers Tuesday found a rental home turned into an indoor marijuana garden.

A search of a home in the 300 block of East Robles Avenue turned up more than 80 plants, ready for harvest, Sgt. Mike Lazzarini said.

He estimated the plants were worth about $16,000 if sold.

No one was living at the home, which had been converted to accommodate the plants.

Detectives are attempting to find out who was renting the home. But the initial search showed most of the rent was subsidized with payments from the Sonoma County Housing Authority, Lazzarini said.

It was not immediately clear who was receiving the subsidy.

No evidence was found at the home to indicate the marijuana was for medicinal purposed, he said.

East Robles Avenue is east of Highway 101, off Santa Rosa Avenue in southern Santa Rosa.

Lazzarini asked for help from anyone who might know about the garden or who was using the home. Detectives can be reached at 543-3575.