Winter Garden security guard pistol-whipped during burglary at cannabis nursery: Police

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. - Winter Garden police are looking for a burglary suspect after a security guard was pistol-whipped early Sunday morning at a cannabis cultivation nursery. 

Officers responded to Knox Nursery at 940 Avalon Road around 3:42 a.m. in reference security officer calling in a battery to another security officer and there being three "unauthorized" people on the property, police said. 

The first security guard stated he works the front gate and while completing his rounds he was approached by three males all wearing masks and blue hoodies. One male was armed with a black firearm and pointed it at him. 

The guard tried to go get his gun and was pistol-whipped and thrown to the ground. He was taken to a hospital and treated for lacerations to the ear.  The second security officer said one subject pulled a gun on him, so he pulled his on the suspect. The suspects then fled and were described as having masks.

Gary House is the owner of Dem 360, an IT company that provides security technology to dispensaries and cannabis cultivation centers in many states, including Florida.

"Florida is probably one of the least restrictive states in all the states we’ve done work in," he said. 

House said cannabis cultivation facilities must follow security regulations that are different by each state. In Florida, the facilities must have an alarm system and must have video surveillance.

"Each one of those is a category per se in the regulation. So with cameras, it’s 45 days retention on the video. You need to have camera coverage on entering and exits basically any egress and ingress points at the facility. "

House said it is also common for the facilities to have security guards. He said the facilities can be a common target for thieves.

"Because of the federal status, these facilities can’t transact any type of sale with credit. So what happens is they collect cash," House explained. "The security isn’t just there to protect the product or protect the people. It’s there to protect the money as well. It’s not uncommon or unreasonable to think there could be several hundred thousand dollars at these facilities at any time."

Police said they arrested two suspects James Brenton, 34, and Jamar West, 36, but are still looking for a third. 

Anyone with information related to this investigation or information about the third suspect is urged to call Detective Sergeant Clarke at 407-656-3636.  

FOX 35's Christy Kern contributed to this report.