LASD: Agoura Man Arrested for Staging Pot-Growing Operation Behind Rental Property

A 22-year-old man suspected of growing marijuana in a makeshift greenhouse behind his Agoura rental home was arrested Wednesday.

Deputies were called around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to stand by while a real estate agent and appraiser accessed the home in the 31200 block of Lobo Canyon Road in the unincorporated community of Agoura, said Lt. Josh Thai of the Los Angeles County sheriff's Malibu/Lost Hills Station. The request was made because "there had been prior disputes" between the residents and the property owner, he said.

Deputies smelled marijuana when the real estate agent opened the door of the home, then saw several marijuana plants drying while walking through the residence, Thai said. Investigating further, they located in the rear of the property an 8-by-25-foot greenhouse covered with a plastic tarp, with 29 mature marijuana plants inside, he said.

The Sheriff's Narcotics Bureau was notified, a search warrant was obtained and the plants, with an estimated street value of $3,000 to $4,000, were seized, Thai said, adding that deputies also found a handgun that was not registered to the suspect.

Nicholas West was booked on suspicion of cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and grand theft for the handgun, Thai said. He was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.