Authorities confiscated 30 pounds of dried marijuana. (Courtesy LASD)
LANCASTER – A crime stoppers tip led local deputies to a Lancaster home Wednesday morning, where they seized 200 marijuana plants and more than two dozen pounds of dried marijuana ready for sales, authorities said.
The raid ended with the arrest of the homeowner, 50-year-old Christopher Neelley, according to a press release from Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. Read it below:
Deputies with from the Narcotics Unit at Lancaster Station served a search warrant at a residence located on the 42000 block of Westminster Way.
Two hundred marijuana plants were seized. (LASD)
They confiscated 200 plants of marijuana and approximately 30 pounds of dried marijuana ready for sales. The owner of the home and sole occupant was Christopher Neelley, who was arrested for felony charges of cultivating marijuana and possession of marijuana for sales. Additional charges may be pending related to city code violations. Suspect Neelley was booked at the Lancaster Station Jail and held on $30,000 bail.
The significance of this event is the source initiating this investigation. The Narcotics Unit received their information anonymously through the non-profit L.A. Crime Stoppers Program. This community driven initiative was launched with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in December of 2009.
Since its inception, Lancaster Station has received 487 tips, which led to 73 arrests, 4 fugitives taken into custody, 9 recovered weapons, $67,105 in recovered stolen property, and over $1,250,000 in street value of illegal narcotics.
Crime Stoppers is an international program with over 1,400 chapters. The L.A. Regional Chapter is available at www.lacrimestoppers.org, by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), or by texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637).
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20 comments for "Crime stoppers tip leads to pot bust"
Alexsays
So irritating to see police waste our tax dollars seizing plants, peacekeeping plants god put on earth for us to use, for medicine, sustainable materials for almost anything, and yes for FUN. We could be earning tax dollars from this… but marijuana doesn’t kill us faster, like reckless, disease causing alcohol, cigarettes, and genetically engineered foods. American government, or the people behind it, sure are backwards. One day i hope this country seeks what it was founded for.
Assays
It may not be that bad like some have commented, or the cops need something better to do and so on. I personally would not want someone growing it living next to me or my children. One day they might smell something and ask what is that? Plus it doesn’t look like he is keeping it to himself. As a homeowner I would hate having that in my neighborhood because most likely there is traffic going back and forth from that house. There used to be a grow house across the street from my parents home in Palmdale where we grew up and now they have to see a boarded up house that just went to crap sticking out like a sore thumb everyday. It wasn’t a bad neighborhood. The people were rarely there, there was no noise. They had a pretty sophisticated op going on and were stealing utilities. That is not something I would want in my neighborhood. So good job law enforcement.
Timothy Searssays
Thanks a lot Lancaster police. With all the gun crime, drive-bys, auto break-ins, meth labs, and other felonies, you’ve found a crime you can actually handle. Makes me so glad I pay my taxes.
BreakinmyhouseBangBangsays
Woop there it is.
Nancy Psays
Question: A person can call the 1-800-222-8477 to report a house in the neighborhood that is a foster home that also has a number of adult male members of the family living there? The traffic, all day everyday, parks at the corner and the adult males walk down to the corner, spend 30-45 seconds and walk back to the house. Over and over all day long. Different cars. Looks like drug dealing or buying, not weed.
Uncle Tomsays
If the question is “Can somebody report…..”, then yes.
kspsays
Like in any sitiuation all law enforcement says “if you see something..say something” holds true report it daily and be sure to take poictures of the happenings then show up at the duty sgts desk and say here is proof im tired of this inmy neighborhood…they will act
mypbsays
The war on drugs is unemployment insurance for law enforcement. The never ending make work gravy train for cops. This petty little nothing bust is just that-pointless and meaningless. I have had it with the antelope valley area and all this mentally dwarfed cop town represents. Pathetic.
kspsays
be nice for you to leave sure we would not miss your whining ass…the AV is so sad (tear) that your main dealer got busted…timeto getoff the couch stoney and find doing more constructive elsewhere
myobsays
Beat it baton polisher. Whining, now thats classic. This hillbilly town is the land of the spineless whiner. And, this little law enforcement make work project isn’t even a tiny dent in the supply.
Jaysays
Colorado is nice. Unemployment there is 5% I believe Seattle is around the same too.
AVGirlsays
People keep saying it is just pot. Until it is legal in CA for recreational use, it is still a crime. Just because we feel a law is unjust or unfair, it doesn’t mean one can just go around breaking it. If you truly think that a law needs to be changed, actually do something about it.
Seriously I am on the fence on this issue. But each time I read or hear “oh it is just pot” or “it is a victimless crime” it makes me wonder about the caliber of people who choose to break the law when it comes to recreational use. I can’t easily support a group of people who would rather sit back and complain (and break the law) instead of fighting for what they think is right.
dsays
You are clueless it’s called civil disobedience it’s just like the civil rights movement you have to break the law to change the law. This person is a farmer plan and simple of a harmless plant
lucysays
Not even close! Armchair lawyer. Neighbors probably didn’t love this and they have civil right too.
AVGirlsays
This is no where near what could be considered civil disobedience.
KBsays
Seriously you just didn’t compare civil rights to the use of marijuana?
Where are the beatings because you choose to smoke pot? Has your home been vandalized because of who you are?
When you have experienced true violation of your civil rights, then we will talk.
redsays
Well now he really won’t get the rent. It’s legal for medical use, I don’t think you’ll ever see crack legal so there’s a big difference
Davidsays
Typical AV cops…. wasting their time on victimless crimes. What [removed] turned him in? who was he hurting???
geez...says
i kinda feel sorry for the guy… Its just pot.. and many states are starting to relax pot restrictions as opinions on pot are starting to change.. but what Christopher Neelley did is still illegal for now.. and someone who held a grudge picked up a phone…
AVGirlsays
If he rented the home, it could very well have been the landlord.
Alex says
So irritating to see police waste our tax dollars seizing plants, peacekeeping plants god put on earth for us to use, for medicine, sustainable materials for almost anything, and yes for FUN. We could be earning tax dollars from this… but marijuana doesn’t kill us faster, like reckless, disease causing alcohol, cigarettes, and genetically engineered foods. American government, or the people behind it, sure are backwards. One day i hope this country seeks what it was founded for.
As says
It may not be that bad like some have commented, or the cops need something better to do and so on. I personally would not want someone growing it living next to me or my children. One day they might smell something and ask what is that? Plus it doesn’t look like he is keeping it to himself. As a homeowner I would hate having that in my neighborhood because most likely there is traffic going back and forth from that house. There used to be a grow house across the street from my parents home in Palmdale where we grew up and now they have to see a boarded up house that just went to crap sticking out like a sore thumb everyday. It wasn’t a bad neighborhood. The people were rarely there, there was no noise. They had a pretty sophisticated op going on and were stealing utilities. That is not something I would want in my neighborhood. So good job law enforcement.
Timothy Sears says
Thanks a lot Lancaster police. With all the gun crime, drive-bys, auto break-ins, meth labs, and other felonies, you’ve found a crime you can actually handle. Makes me so glad I pay my taxes.
BreakinmyhouseBangBang says
Woop there it is.
Nancy P says
Question: A person can call the 1-800-222-8477 to report a house in the neighborhood that is a foster home that also has a number of adult male members of the family living there? The traffic, all day everyday, parks at the corner and the adult males walk down to the corner, spend 30-45 seconds and walk back to the house. Over and over all day long. Different cars. Looks like drug dealing or buying, not weed.
Uncle Tom says
If the question is “Can somebody report…..”, then yes.
ksp says
Like in any sitiuation all law enforcement says “if you see something..say something” holds true report it daily and be sure to take poictures of the happenings then show up at the duty sgts desk and say here is proof im tired of this inmy neighborhood…they will act
mypb says
The war on drugs is unemployment insurance for law enforcement. The never ending make work gravy train for cops. This petty little nothing bust is just that-pointless and meaningless. I have had it with the antelope valley area and all this mentally dwarfed cop town represents. Pathetic.
ksp says
be nice for you to leave sure we would not miss your whining ass…the AV is so sad (tear) that your main dealer got busted…timeto getoff the couch stoney and find doing more constructive elsewhere
myob says
Beat it baton polisher. Whining, now thats classic. This hillbilly town is the land of the spineless whiner. And, this little law enforcement make work project isn’t even a tiny dent in the supply.
Jay says
Colorado is nice. Unemployment there is 5% I believe Seattle is around the same too.
AVGirl says
People keep saying it is just pot. Until it is legal in CA for recreational use, it is still a crime. Just because we feel a law is unjust or unfair, it doesn’t mean one can just go around breaking it. If you truly think that a law needs to be changed, actually do something about it.
Seriously I am on the fence on this issue. But each time I read or hear “oh it is just pot” or “it is a victimless crime” it makes me wonder about the caliber of people who choose to break the law when it comes to recreational use. I can’t easily support a group of people who would rather sit back and complain (and break the law) instead of fighting for what they think is right.
d says
You are clueless it’s called civil disobedience it’s just like the civil rights movement you have to break the law to change the law. This person is a farmer plan and simple of a harmless plant
lucy says
Not even close! Armchair lawyer. Neighbors probably didn’t love this and they have civil right too.
AVGirl says
This is no where near what could be considered civil disobedience.
KB says
Seriously you just didn’t compare civil rights to the use of marijuana?
Where are the beatings because you choose to smoke pot?
Has your home been vandalized because of who you are?
When you have experienced true violation of your civil rights, then we will talk.
red says
Well now he really won’t get the rent. It’s legal for medical use, I don’t think you’ll ever see crack legal so there’s a big difference
David says
Typical AV cops…. wasting their time on victimless crimes.
What [removed] turned him in? who was he hurting???
geez... says
i kinda feel sorry for the guy… Its just pot.. and many states are starting to relax pot restrictions as opinions on pot are starting to change.. but what Christopher Neelley did is still illegal for now.. and someone who held a grudge picked up a phone…
AVGirl says
If he rented the home, it could very well have been the landlord.