Elgin cops uncover 'sophisticated' pot operation, arrest 3

Elgin Police made busts at four houses that yielded about 550 marijuana plants and sophisticated growing equipment.

Elgin Police made busts at four houses that yielded about 550 marijuana plants and sophisticated growing equipment.

Officer Jason Lentz, left, and Sgt. Jim Lullo exhibit the spoils of an Elgin Police bust at 4 Elgin homes that yielded about 550 marijuana plants and sophisticated growing equipment.

Marijuana plants hang in a spare room above copier paper and extra printer toner after Elgin Police made busts at 4 west side Elgin homes that yielded about 550 marijuana plants and sophisticated growing equipment.

Sgt. Jim Lullo shows off some of the equipment seized after Elgin Police made busts at four houses that yielded about 550 marijuana plants and sophisticated growing equipment.

Elgin police have uprooted a large-scale, "very sophisticated" indoor pot operation on the city's west side, seizing about 550 plants from four houses and between $50,000 and $60,000 in growing equipment, police said Thursday.

Three were arrested. Officers also confiscated between 31/2 and 4 pounds of processed marijuana in the case.

Police, acting on several tips, launched an investigation two months ago, culminating in the three arrests Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning, Sgt. Jim Lullo said.

The following Elgin residents were arrested:

• Louis Lomber, 62, of the 300 block of Orange Street; he was charged with one felony count of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

• Mary Friedly, 58, of the 300 block of Orange Street; she was charged with two felony counts of production of marijuana and one felony count of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver.

• Christopher Olsen, 35, of the 600 block of McClure Avenue; he was charged with two felony counts of production of marijuana.

The production houses were on the 600 block of McClure Avenue, the 0-99 block of South Alfred Avenue, the 200 block of South Melrose Avenue and the 200 block of South Aldine Avenue. No suspect lived at the Melrose Avenue address, but the home was part of the drug operation, police said.

Officers also found a .32-caliber pistol and 50 rounds of ammunition at one of the homes, police said.

Lullo estimates that the operation, which included fans, drying racks and a water purification and irrigation system, had been going on for more than a year.

He also said the marijuana's street value ranged between $20,000 and $30,000 a month.

Police say this case was unprecedented both in size and in the number of houses used.

"It's a little more than pot in a plant," Lullo said.

The suspects are expected to appear in bond call Friday morning and the investigation continues for other potential suspects, Lullo said.

"It's kind of like a marijuana plant," Lullo said. "You've got to make sure you got all the leaves."