A spike in electrical usage at a Turlock residence was the tip needed to lead the Turlock Police Department’s narcotics enforcement team to an indoor marijuana growing operation.

As a result of the investigation, the narcotics team arrested two individuals and seized several pounds of marijuana.

The team was alerted to the residence in the 900 block of Domingo Court in Turlock, after unusual power readings were recorded, said police spokesman Lt. Nino Amirfar.

Investigators discovered power was being diverted to the home. After serving a search warrant at the residence they found evidence that the home had recently been used to cultivate marijuana.

The raid on the Turlock home turned up information that led investigators to serve a search warrant at a home in the 900 block of Stone Springs Avenue in Ceres.

At the Ceres home the narcotics team found five pounds of marijuana with an approximate street value of $10,000, Amirfar said.

Arrested at the Turlock residence was Christina Duarte, 27, of Turlock for felony obstructing and injuring an electric power line.

At the Ceres residence officers arrested Jesus Chavez, 27, for cultivation of marijuana, possession for sales and being a convicted felon in possession of a gun.

To contact Sabra Stafford, e-mail sstafford@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2002.