Antioch police arrested a Brentwood man earlier this week on suspicion of cultivating and selling marijuana.

The Antioch Police Department's SWAT team, along with narcotics detectives, raided the house of Rafael Hernandez in the 800 block of Chiavari Court in Brentwood about 10 a.m. Tuesday, Antioch police Detective Jimmy Wisecarver said.

Detectives found marijuana growing inside and outside the house, in addition to 20 pounds of dried marijuana buds, counterfeit money, a bullet-proof vest, ammunition and high-capacity magazines for an assault rifle, Wisecarver said. Police seized 73 marijuana plants as evidence.

Hernandez was not home when officers forced their way into the house, officials said. As police searched the residence, Hernandez pulled up in front of the house in his SUV with his daughters, ages 7 and 9, sitting in the back seat.

Seeing the police at his house, Hernandez quickly drove off and led police on a short chase that ended a few blocks from his home, Wisecarver said. Driving with a loaded gun, Hernandez allegedly removed the weapon's magazine and tossed the gun in the back seat near his daughters.

The two children were not hurt in the incident, police said. Hernandez, who had $56,318 in cash on hand when arrested, was booked into County Jail in Martinez.

Tuesday's arrest was the latest in a string of marijuana growing operations busted by police in East County this year.

Simon