HOME-INVASION VICTIM CHARGED FOR GROWING POT

EDMONTON - The victim of a west-end home invasion faces charges after
police responding to an emergency call found a small marijuana growing
operation in the house.

Patrol officers were called to a house near 79th Avenue and 159th
Street around 8 p.m. on Tuesday after a witness saw a man run from the home
with a masked man after him.

The masked man reportedly caught the other man, beat him on the front lawn
and dragged him back into the house.

When police arrived and went inside, they found two men in the
basement, both bound with duct tape and lying face down. One was
apparently the beating victim. Police also found about 150 marijuana
plants, said spokesman Wes Bellmore.

Police say two people were involved in the home invasion. One has been
arrested; the other has not been identified.

Eleazor Robert Giroux, 25, of Edmonton has been charged with unlawful
confinement, assault, assault causing bodily harm, assault with a
weapon, robbery and wearing a disguise.

Charges in relation to the grow operation are pending against the man who
was beaten, said Bellmore.