80 pot plants seized from home

Santa Rosa narcotics officers Tuesday found a rental home converted 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. However, Housing Authority officials said the home was inspected on May 7 as part of a yearly required inspection of all subsidized housing properties.

No signs of marijuana production were evident, said Carol Turner, leased housing manager for the Sonoma County Housing Authority.

Lazzarini said police were directed to the house by neighbors during an investigation into an unrelated case.

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.

-- Randi Rossmann

and Laura Norton