Police Bust Marijuana Growing House

Gwinnett County police arrested a man after an early morning drug raid at a house in Auburn. Police said it was a sophisticated growing operation, with several marijuana plants in the basement.

Police said it was a tip from a neighbor that led officers to the home and a sophisticated marijuana growing operation in the basement of the house.

Undercover officers served a search warrant overnight on Friday.

"I was waiting to hear gunshots or something," said a neighbor, who didn't want to be identified.

The neighbor described the police raid that happened across the street from his home.

"We came out and basically saw a bunch of cops around the house. They gave them a good while; they announced that they had a search warrant a couple of times. They gave them a chance to surrender and then they broke down the door," said the neighbor.

As officers broke down the door, witnesses said, the suspect tried unsuccessfully to escape.

"(He) took off running and police, they just caught him," said the neighbor.

Authorities said police seized several marijuana plants and a sophisticated growing system in the basement of the home.

Neighbors described a pattern of bizarre behavior which aroused their suspicions and those of the police.

"Nobody would come out. You wouldn't see anybody, the way they back-in their cars and close the garage door. It was kind of suspicious activity," said the neighbor.

Gwinnett County police have not released the name of the suspect or the charges he will likely face. Investigators have not said if they believe if the house was a part of a much larger operation.