LAKEBAY—
Sheriff's deputies investigating a possible stolen outboard motor at a home in Key Peninsula quickly discovered another, bigger crime right under their noses.In fact, it was their noses that literally led them to the second crime -- and helped them discover 75 pot plants growing in a garage.
Deputies were investigating the home after a man who said someone had stolen his eight horsepower Evinrude outboard motor overnight. A few hours later, someone posted a motor that looked just like his on the Craigslist website.
The theft victim went to the seller's home on 197th Avenue Court in Lakebay on the Key Peninsula to check it out. After he saw a few identifying marks and scratches -- the man left and called the sheriff's department to tell them he had found the stolen engine.
When officers arrived, they noticed the distinctive aroma of fresh, unsmoked marijuana coming from the garage. They asked permission to search the garage -- and the man and woman who lived there said it would be okay.
Deputies also found a glass pipe used to smoke meth in the man's pocket.
Once they made it inside the garage, they found the 75 marijuana plants.
Detectives with the West Sound Narcotics Enforcement Team are now questioning the man and woman living at the home and another man who allegedly gave them the boat motor to sell.
