FIREFIGHTER MAY FACE POT CHARGES

380 Pot Plants Allegedly Found In Vancouver Fireman's Home

DELTA - A Vancouver firefighter may face charges after Delta police
found a marijuana grow operation in his home.

The unidentified 44-year-old man was arrested Thursday.

Police acting on a search warrant raided his home in the 9100-block
112th Street that afternoon and found 380 plants with an estimated
street value of $140,000.

Vancouver Fire Department spokesman Capt. Rob Jones-Cook confirmed the
suspect is a 24-year member of the department and is an active
firefighter working out of a station on the city's west side.

"If it's true, it goes against everything we're doing," Jones-Cook
said of the potential charges. "We as a fire department expect all of
our employees to demonstrate good judgment, honesty and personal
integrity at all times."

The firefighter, a married father of three, was put on administrative
leave without pay on Saturday morning. Delta police are recommending
he be charged with production of a controlled substance and possession
for the purpose of trafficking. Crown has yet to approve the charges.

Police have confirmed they hauled $7,000 worth of lights and fans from
the house. Officers later put a sign on the firefighter's front lawn
explaining to curious passersby that police were dismantling a grow
operation.

The suspect was released from custody on a promise to appear in court.
Power supply to the tidy home across the street from the Annieville
Elementary playing field has been cut off.

"It took me by surprise," said Jones-Cook, who said he only learned of
the arrest Friday when a Delta Optimist reporter called him for
comment. In his 30 years with the VFD, Jones-Cook said he can't recall
any case like the one emerging in Delta. Firefighters routinely assist
police to take down grow-ops and are very vocal in explaining the fire
hazards of growing marijuana.

Jones-Cook pointed out that two firefighters from the department work
with the Vancouver police Grow Busters team to dismantle illegal
marijuana grows. The suspect in this case did not liaise with Grow
Busters.

Jones-Cook said the department does not believe the suspect
firefighter used grow-op knowledge gleaned from on-the-job observation
to put together his own alleged pot farm.

The investigation continues.