Approximately 287 marijuana plants worth an estimated $1.29 million were found in an upscale Canton home Friday morning, authorities confirm.
The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office obtained a felony arrest warrant for a person at a home off Gold Mill Ridge, but they didn’t expect to stumble into a large marijuana grow house, the sheriff’s office said in a news release.
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Credit: Channel 2 Action News
Carlos Suarez-Diaz, 36, of Canton, was found within the home and arrested after a brief chase through some neighbors yards, the release said. He allegedly was able to slip out of one handcuff and tried to run away again but was apprehended.
Credit: Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
Credit: Cherokee County Sheriff's Office
Suarez-Diaz was not the person deputies had the arrest warrant for. That person was another resident of the home who had previously been arrested for felony distribution of marijuana, Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Marianne Kelley told AJC.com.
She said the person’s name hasn’t been released because the person wasn’t at the home and is not in custody yet.
The home is valued at $500,000, according to Channel 2 Action News.
Suarez-Diaz faces charges of trafficking marijuana, possession or manufacturing of marijuana, obstruction of an officer and escaping an officer, which are all felonies. He’s currently at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center with no bond.
The Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad assisted with evidence collection and removal of the marijuana plants, the release said.
Due to the size of the operation and the expensive equipment found in the home, CMANS Commander Phil Price told Channel 2 he believes the marijuana was being sold outside of Georgia.
“We believe, based on what we see here, that the marijuana was being shipped out of state,” Price said.
RELATED: Pot worth $350,000 found in nail salon; feds investigating
A separate large marijuana bust happened in Oconee County Thursday night at a nail salon in Watkinsville. About 70 pounds of pot was seized, which is worth about $350,000, according to the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office.
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