Overheated electrical connection leads Elk Grove police to grass, cash, assault rifle

An Elk Grove resident was booked into jail Sunday after police said they found more than 100 marijuana plants, thousands in cash and an assault rifle in his home.

Firefighters were called to the house in the 6700 block of Vilamoura Way to put out a garage fire that was started by an overheated electrical connection that had been illegally tapped for power.

Elk Grove police officers arrived and detained the resident of the house, 26-year-old Christopher Michael Fernandez. Officers then obtained a search warrant, suspecting an illegal marijuana growing operation was somewhere in the living area of the home.

Detectives eventually found about 140 marijuana plants, 10 pounds of processed marijuana, $4,000 in cash, two loaded handguns and a loaded assault rifle, according to a police press release.

Fernandez was arrested on suspicion of cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, stealing electricity, being armed in commission of a felony and possession of an assault weapon.

Bill Lindelof

This story was originally published May 11, 2015 at 7:12 AM with the headline "Overheated electrical connection leads Elk Grove police to grass, cash, assault rifle."