GROW HOUSE BUST NETS $575,000 IN POT

Almost from the day they moved in last November, a couple and their
frequent visitors throughout the night attracted attention in the quiet
Wood River Acres neighbourhood in Sutton.

There were frequent comings and goings at all hours, the garage door
opening and closing quickly as they made their way in and out.

Mysterious, too, was the amount of furniture moved in: kitchen chairs, a
sofa, mattress and a few other items.

A large aquarium, full of water but containing no fish, obscured any view
through the front window. The driveway remained unplowed all winter and the
curtained windows of the house stayed open even in the coldest weather.

A stout chainlink fence was built close to the house around the rear yard
early on and a large guard dog was occasionally seen prowling in the
enclosed area.

With the arrival of spring, grass was allowed to grow knee deep, leaving
the property sticking out like a sore thumb in the upscale neighbourhood of
well-tended gardens and lawns.

Finally, three fed-up neighbours got together and cut the grass.

"We cut down the cheap stuff while the expensive stuff was inside," one of
them who refused to give his name said laughing.

"We always thought there was something funny going on in there," another
neighbour said.

That was the day before eight members of the York Regional Police drug
squad unit, in bulletproof vests and guns drawn, kicked in the front door
of the house last Thursday.

In the basement they uncovered a sophisticated marijuana growing operation
and hauled out 575 plants worth about $575,000 on the street. They spent
several hours in protective gear and breathing apparatus compiling evidence
and ferrying plants and materials out into a waiting truck.

Hydro One arrived soon after to shut down the electricity, which, police
said, had been dangerously diverted from the meter.

Cops have other dangers in entering grow houses as well, having to deal
with potentially armed drug dealers, vicious dogs and deadly booby traps.

"It was pretty exciting," said a 15-year-old girl who witnessed the bust.
"I heard my dog barking and went to the window and all these cops were
there with their guns out. One tried to kick in the door, but he couldn't,
then another one did."

There was no sign of the couple, visitors or dog.

Neighbours were left wondering what would happen to the house, reportedly
badly damaged due to mould from the high heat and humidity needed to grow
the drugs.

"I heard they may have to tear it down," one man said. "In either case, the
cops seized it all. I guess the courts will decide."

An Advocate carrier reported "a funny smell" emanating from the house when
she dropped off a newspaper.

The bust was part of Operation Baby Bud that closed down a number of grow
houses in the region's south end.

This was the first foray into Georgina.

"This was a big one," a drug squad officer said.

Along with the Sutton investigation, drug squad officers also busted a
smaller grow house operation on Natanya Boulevard in Keswick, collecting
more than $200,000 worth of marijuana.