SEBASTIAN — Acting on an anonymous tip, the Indian River County Multi-Agency Criminal Enforcement Unity spent three weeks investigating a possible marijuana grow house in Sebastian, which yielded one arrest and 71 plants worth $30,000.
MACE Detective Rob Vafiades from the Sebastian Police Department was able to gather enough evidence to obtain a search warrant for the Arbor Street residence.
The special unit then arrested 54-year-old Sebastian resident Arnold Diehl, of Arbor Street, on Nov. 19, after finding the plants, $1,400 in cash, a quarter-pound of dried marijuana, small baggies and scales, according to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office.
Diehl faces felony charges of marijuana cultivation and possession of marijuana with intent to sell. He is being held at the county jail in lieu of $10,000 bond.
Diehl told investigators that he had been growing the crop over the last four months and that it was for personal use as well as to give to friends who are sick, the arrest affidavit states.
