Metro arrests 2 in raid at medical marijuana business

By Rich Coleman

Published Thursday, Feb. 24, 2011 | 4:45 p.m.

Updated Friday, Feb. 25, 2011 | 11:43 a.m.

Metro Police arrested two people Thursday evening after raiding a business authorities said was operating as an illegal storefront for selling marijuana. A third person was arrested after police raided a nearby house later in the evening.

Marco Godinez, the owner of Medical Man at 8665 W. Flamingo Road, and employee Bonnie Rhodehamel, 25, were arrested on counts of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to sell, conspiracy to distribute and trafficking in a controlled substance, police said.

Louis Smith, a resident of the house police raided, was also arrested Thursday evening on counts of attempted destruction of evidence, possession with intent to sell marijuana, conspiracy to sell and prohibited person in possession of firearms.

Police began the raid at 3:30 p.m. and found an illegal marijuana grow operation inside the business, authorities said.

Officers recovered about eight marijuana plants, nine pounds of “ready-for-sale” marijuana, hash oil and cash, police said.

“We are now treating these dispensaries as what they are: drug trafficking groups,” Metro Lt. Laz Chavez said. “We are targeting them; we are actively going after all the businesses that are nothing more than a storefront.”

Metro SWAT officers later raided a house at 3131 Appleblossom Circle, near Buffalo Drive and Desert Inn Road, where Godinez rented a room, police said. Authorities seized a couple ounces of marijuana, $21,000 in cash and a number of firearms, including an AK-47, police said.

Police said that Smith, a resident of the house, was tipped off before police arrived and attempted to get rid of evidence inside the home.

Godinez lived at the house with Smith, a woman and several children, police said. The woman and children are not part of the investigation and do not face any charges, police said.

Renzo Asparria, owner of Hard Knocks Muay Thai, a martial arts school next to Medical Man, said he contacted the landlord of the property in October trying to put a stop to the business next door.

Pointing to his training gym filled with about 20 children, Asparria said the business next door was potentially dangerous and drove customers away.

“They walk in and always ask, ‘What’s that funny smell?’ What can I tell them?” Asparria said. “It’s been really hurting my business.”

The business was also located near a tutoring center, a dance studio and a church, he said.