Circuit Explodes at Otay Mesa Marijuana Grow

An overloaded circuit caused an explosion at a marijuana growing operation in Otay Mesa, San Diego Police officials say.

Witnesses say at 2:10 p.m., a man holding his bloodied face with one hand ran out the front door of his building.

When San Diego Fire-Rescue crews arrived, they discovered there was some sort of explosion at the business, which officials describe as a fairly sophisticated operation with commercial-grade lights and two rooms filled waist-high with pot plants.

According to SDPD Lt. Jerry McManus, the explosion was sparked by an overloaded circuit inside.

"There's a couple big rooms that have some heavy duty lighting," he said. "It's probably drawing way more than it's supposed to. That's probably what caused the little explosion. In fact there's some wires that look like they were burned a little bit from being overused or too much power coming through them."

A Hazmat team was called in to test the area for hazardous materials and other dangers in the area. They cleared the building about two hours later.

The man with the bloodied face was taken to the hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries, officials say.

A woman who identified herself as a renter in the building said there is supposed to be a medical marijuana dispensary on the property. Police have not verified that.

"We don't know the extent of what violations might be involved, how illegal it is," said McManus. "As you know, some of the medical marijuana is legal. We still have to investigate that and see what, if any, violations there are."

NBC 7 Newschopper captured aerials showing at least five San Diego Police patrol cars near a warehouse building.

A fire engine was parked outside one of the garages and crime scene tape blocked access to the driveway.

In 2004, San Diego Police and the Drug Enforcement Administration discovered 11,500 pounds of marijuana in a vacant warehouse at the same address, according to a DEA news release.

Contact Us