POLICE BUST GROW OP

Suspect Agrees To Surrender To OPP

An Amaranth man, wanted in connection with a makeshift marijuana grow
op found in a County Road 11 home March 14, faces immediate arrest
upon his return to Ontario, say Dufferin OPP.

"We won't say where he is at the moment ... all we'll say is that he
has agreed to turn himself over to police," says Sgt. Dean Skelding.

Officers became aware of the grow op after receiving a tip through
Crime Stoppers. Skelding said police met no resistance when they
arrived at the home Monday morning. Two people living in the home
cooperated fully with police.

"Officers did not have sufficient information to garner a warrant,"
Skelding told The Banner. "However, police did gain consent from the
inhabitants of the home to search (the premises). In searching the
home, they found a fully operational lab in the basement with plants
in various stages of growth."

He would not say who owns the Amaranth home or what the relationship
is between the wanted man and those living in the home.

"They have no affiliation with the grow op and do not face any
charges," he stated.

Police have contacted the man they believe responsible for the
operation and await his return to Ontario.

Skelding says the five Dufferin OPP officers who attended the scene
retrieved 497 marijuana plants worth roughly $500,000.

Police also found that a thick web of hydro wires surrounding the
outside of the property were snipped and rerouted into the house.

Skelding explained that with home-based grow operations electricity is
often swiped to conceal the large amount of energy being used.

"We found that (the culprit) had been stealing electricity from Hydro
One," he said, noting that hydro crews were called in to fix the
cables. "The individual did a poor job with the wiring and our biggest
concern was that a fire could break out at any point."

Monday's incident is one of several marijuana busts to occur in the
area in the last year.

Officers from local detachments, including Orangeville Police and
Caledon OPP, recovered close to $2 million worth of pot plants from
area fields during the summer months.

"In this area grow ops tend to be set up outside in rural fields,"
said Skelding, explaining that farmer's fields are perceived by
criminals to offer the perfect cover. "But the advantage of bringing
grow ops indoors is that marijuana can be grown year round.

"In many cases these people can (yield) three or four crops a year,
quadrupling their income."

The potential dangers to police and public of marijuana grow ops has
garnered much attention, following an incident involving Alberta
Mounties earlier this month.

Four RCMP officers were gunned down during a raid at a Rochfort Bridge
farm, located approximately 130 kilometres northwest of Edmonton.

Although violence was not a factor in this particular case, Skelding
says officers are well aware of the dangers they face when executing
drug-related warrants.

Police entering volatile situations are well trained and follow strict
procedures.

"Officers don't just come knocking at the front door," he said.