More marijuana growing arrests in Elgin

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Matthew J. Moraca, 35, of the 200 block of Perry Street, Elgin, was charged with production or possession of cannabis plants, manufacture or delivery of cannabis, and possession of a controlled substance.

Updated: March 2, 2012 8:19AM

ELGIN — Police have arrested two men in recent days, charging them with growing marijuana in their homes. Neither arrest seems to be related, officials added, but were the results of residents reporting an odor coming from the homes.

On Monday, officers from the Elgin police drug unit and the Unit for Special Assignments executed a search warrant in the 200 block of Perry Street. That search uncovered a marijuana growing operation in the basement of the single-family home, said police Lt. Glenn Theriault.

Detectives seized 241 plants, 209 grams of processed marijuana and a small amount of ecstasy pills, Theriault said. The street value of the marijuana and pills is about $75,000, he said.

The occupant of the home, Matthew J. Moraca, 35, was charged with production or possession of cannabis plants, manufacture or delivery of cannabis, and possession of a controlled substance. Bail was set at $600,000 on Tuesday at Elgin felony bond call, and he was given a Feb. 15 court date.

On Thursday, officers from the police department’s drug and gang units executed a search warrant in the 300 block of Cassidy Lane. The search warrant uncovered a marijuana growing operation in the basement of that single-family residence, Theriault said.

Detectives recovered 31 suspected marijuana plants with a street value of about $15,000, Theriault said.

Robert D. Williams, 43, of the Cassidy Lane home, was charged with production or possession of cannabis plants. Bail was set at $60,000 Friday, and he was given a Feb. 12 court date.

“Both arrests came as a result of unrelated neighborhood complaints of the smell of marijuana coming from the houses,” Theriault said in a press release. “The Elgin Police Department is committed to making our community safe and encourages residents to report suspicious activity such as this.”

Elgin police last broke up a large marijuana growing operation in September 2010. Police at that time seized about 500 marijuana plants from four near-west-side homes in what authorities described as one of the largest and most sophisticated cannabis growing operations they had ever come across. Officials said that operation’s street value was estimated at between $20,000 and $30,000 a month.

In November, Elgin police recovered more than 150 marijuana plants and about 130 grams of processed marijuana with a street value of nearly $40,000 from a home in the 700 block of Logan Avenue. Again, officials said, neighbors there had complained that they could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the home. In that arrest, police said they also confiscated four rifles and three handguns.

“It usually starts with a neighbor complaint,” said Elgin Police Sgt. Jeff Adam. “Three quarters of our grow complaints come from ... neighbors calling us. Neighbors provide great intelligence” for police.