Arnold Diehl arrested, suspected grow house in Sebastian raided, 71 marijuana plants found, cops say

SEBASTIAN — Law enforcement officials followed a tip that led to the discovery of a marijuana grow house on Arbor Street.

The Multi-Agency Criminal Enforcement Unit spent three weeks investigating the home in the 400 block of Arbor. On Monday, they took Arnold Diehl, 54, into custody and charged him with cultivation and possession of marijuana with intent to sell.

Authorities have found about half a dozen grow operations in Indian River County this year.

Detectives on Monday searched Diehl's home and found 71 marijuana plants, a quarter-pound of dried marijuana, paraphernalia and $1,400 cash, they said.

The investigation stemmed from an anonymous complaint that was investigated by a Sebastian Police Department detective.

MACE officials said Diehl's operation was not particularly large. By comparison, authorities found more than 100 plants in a grow house in the 8700 block of 20th Street in September. However, Diehl's equipment was high quality and could yield plants which would have produced marijuana with an estimated street value of more than $30,000, officials said.

Diehl remained at the Indian River County Jail Tuesday in lieu of $10,000 bail.