MOUNTAIN GROW-OP'S WIRING PACKED POTENTIAL WALLOP

An East 24th Street home was evacuated and its hydro service cut off
after police discovered what they say was a potentially explosive
marijuana grow operation.

Sergeant Michael Webber said police found the home's electrical
wiring had been dangerously altered after executing a mid-morning
search warrant Jan. 11.

"Someone within the home grounded the electrical service into the
residence's main gas line," he said.

"Obviously this has the potential for explosion. If the home had
received an electrical surge it would have caused an ignition and it
would have went up in flames -- not only the home itself but possibly
the neighbouring homes."

Police seized 17 marijuana plants in varying stages of growth, 11
grams of cannabis resin, 15 grams of hash, a 12-gauge shotgun and
1.22-calibre rifle.

They estimate the street value of the drugs at $17,000.

A 34-year-old Hamilton man faces four charges for cultivation and
possession of drugs, two charges for unauthorized possession of
firearms and two counts of breaching a weapons prohibition.

Six exotic parrots at the home were also seized by the city's animal
control department.