Pot Grower Walks

How does one get away with having a marijuana growing operation when
they're confronted by police?

By admitting it.

Then, let the police take all of your grow op related
stuff.

That's exactly what happened in Errington on Aug. 15, after a member
of the Oceanside RCMP received a tip about a grow op in the 1500 block
of Dunn Road. Constable Stewart Masi said the officer then went up to
the house in question - and knocked on the door.

"The door opened and the officer asked if there was a grow-op in the
house," said Masi. "The occupant said yes and then he consented to a
search."

The officer ended up seizing 550 marijuana plants and 25
bulbs.

The man was not charged.

"There are no charges in a consensual search," said Masi when
questioned further.

Where criminal charges do come into effect, he continued, is when
police do not get such co-operation from people and must resort to a
full investigation, including the obtaining of search warrants.

"If the person consents, then you just go in and cease the illegal
activity."

But is this a deterrent?

Masi said when this happens, it gives police a lot of background on
particular people and addresses - making it easier to get additional
search warrants if they believe a person starts another grow op.
Repeat offenders, he said, would face a lot more trouble from the police.

In this sort of situation, then, are the police simply spinning their
tires?

"That's hard to say," Masi said. "This did save the guy a lot of
hassle."