UPDATE: Father, Son Arrested in Far-reaching Marijuana Scheme

Alan Zimmerman and his 69-year-old father, Jay, were arrested for their involvement in an alleged marijuana operation that authorities said stretched from Skokie to northwestern Indiana.

Skokie police arrested Jay Zimmerman during a traffic stop in the 5200 block of Coyle after they were contacted by the Cook County Sheriffs Department. Officers found drug paraphernalia in the car and later searched his home on Latrobe Avenue, where about 60 marijuana plants, an AK-47-style assault rifle and two guns were also uncovered.

That wasn't nearly as many marijuana plants later found in a search of his son's home in Chesterton, Ind.

Police found a complex growing operation in seizing more than 380 plants and weapons that included shotguns, assault rifles and handguns, according to online reports. Authorities alleged the illicit drug was being delivered to areas as far east as Chesterton in northwestern Indiana.

Charges against both men included felony possession of weapons as well as manufacturing and delivering of marijuana. Police said more charges are likely.

Update:

Jay Zimmerman, the man arrested along with his 42-year-old son for growing large caches of marijuana plants, lives on a quiet tree-lined street in Skokie. His home at 6848 Latrobe Ave. is a block away from Norman Schack Park and a few blocks away from Fairview Elementary School. 

Many residents in the community are senior citizens or don't have children, said Jong Lee, who lives across the street from Zimmerman and did not suspect anything suspicious about the neighbor who police arrested on drug and weapon charges.

"I never saw people go in there," Lee said. "Just an old man bringing grocery bags in and out of his house, but that's it."

Lee recalled the events of July 28, when about five or six police squad cars showed up and blocked Zimmerman's garage. 

"I saw police bring out marijuana plants," he said. "Lots of [marijuana plants] were brought out."

Be sure to check out the new pictures added to this story.