GROW OPS ARE DANGEROUS, POLICE SAY

KIRKLAND LAKE - More than just the product produced at marijuana grow
operations can be hazardous to your health.

That is part of the message that OPP officers who work on the frontline
eradicating marijuana grow operations brought to a meeting of the Kenogami
Sesekinika Community Policing meeting.

Kirkland Lake OPP Const. Brent Turner, the OPP liaison officer for the
Kenogami Sesekinika Policing Committee told the 35 people present that they
have the meetings so people in the area can ask questions and raise any
concerns they may have so concerns can be taken back his superiors at the
Kirkland Lake OPP Detachment.

Having an information session about marijuana grow operations was
appropriate because in the past year a number of grow operations have been
discovered in the Kenogami Sesekinika area.

In addition to passing on information about how to recognize a grow
operation and what to do if a resident found one the meeting was of
particular interest to firefighters who may have to respond to an emergency
situation at a grow operations. Firefighters from Virginiatown, Larder
Lake, Kirkland Lake, Kenogami, and Sesekinika attended the meeting.

Detective Const. Matt Buttigieg, who works with OPP Project Gateway, which
targets drug operations right across the province and Detective Const. Mike
Walton, who also works on Project Gateway shared their knowledge and
expertise at the meeting.

Because of the potential dangers involved in dismantling a marijuana grow
operation the OPP have changed how they deal with them. In earlier years he
said they went in quickly and dismantled the operation quickly but that
often left the officers exposed to a number of potentially dangerous
situations and to the possibility of developing long-term health problems
because of their exposure to chemicals and mold.

Today the officer explained they don't rush into grow operations and when
they do go in they wear protective clothing and a ventilator masks. They
also wear boots that protect them from electrical shocks.

There are number of signs that can alert people to a grow operation. One
indication is the windows are all covered so people can't see in. Another
is structural damage to the roof or an excessive amount of steam coming
from the house.

The lack of human activity and the grass not being cut or the snow shoveled
could be other indicators. As well people involved in grow operation
usually don't put their garbage out. In the winter time there could be
excessive ice build up around the eves of house and around the foundation
of the house.

During the presentation by using video images Const. Buttigieg took people
inside various grow operations. There was number of slides showing very
dangerous electrical wiring, that became even more dangerous because of the
high humidity in the houses used for grow operations. The video also showed
large and small drums of chemicals used as fertilizer for the marijuana
plants. In 2002 more than $500 million worth of electricity was stolen by
grow operators.

Const. Buttigieg showed a number of pictures of how the mold would take
over the house. As well pictures showed how the high humidity would cause
structural damage to the house, especially in roof trusses.

He explained that if a house is used for a grow operation for just six
months the house becomes virtually useless. He noted some landlords get
very unpleasant surprises when they find out their houses have been used
for grow operations. Costs to return a home to livable conditions can be
$100,000. Unfortunately in some cases the mold is just painted over and new
people move in and don't realize they are living in a house that poses a
health hazard to them.

Even approaching a home that is being used as a grow operation can be
dangerous. Often the high humidity from the house leaks out and in the
winter creates ice all around house making it dangerous for emergency
workers to approach. As well there have been cases where the doors and
windows have an electrical charge running through them to keep intruders out.

Const. Buttigieg said in one case the outside walls of the house had an
electrical charge running through it and because the house was in
residential area it represented a real potential threat to safety of
children playing in the area.

Once inside the house emergency workers must be aware that because grow
operations use carbon dioxide they may be entering an area where there is a
low level of oxygen. Another thing that emergency workers must be wary of
holes cut in the floor and then covered with rugs. Const. Buttigieg said
the holes are cut in the floors either as booby traps or for ventilation
that wasn't installed.

Another thing emergency workers must take into consideration is that there
is very little walking room because of the plants, and they need to get the
very high powered lights shut off as soon as possible.

The officer said the 1,000 watt bulbs used create a great deal of heat and
produce ultraviolet radiation as well as being a fire hazard.

Outdoor grow operation also pose many dangerous and if a person comes
across one they should stay out and inform the police.

It is not unusual for the grower to booby trap the outdoor grow. Const.
Buttigieg said this is not done to keep police away but is done to keep
people from stealing the marijuana and to keep animals from eating it.

Some of the booby traps the police have discovered at grow operations
include, fish hooks, which are difficult to see, hung at eye level, and
trip wires that set off a shotgun bullet or release other items designed to
inflict serious bodily harm.

With grow operation moving North Const. Buttigieg said often the growers
feel safe but just the opposite is true because people in small communities
notice new people and people who really don't fit in. He said that in many
cases it is cooperation from the public that leads to the discovery of grow
operations and the arrest of the operators.

Const. Walton noted that from his experience there is a direct link between
drugs and other criminal activity in communities. That in some cases
various serious crimes, even murder, are tied to the drugs so that is
another reason for people to forward their suspicious about drug activity
to the police.

The maximum sentience for growing marijuana is seven years and Const.
Buttigieg said he has noticed in some jurisdictions recently that growers
are getting stiffer sentences.