OVERTURNED BOAT LEADS TO DRUG ARREST IN COVENTRY

COVENTRY - It started with the report of an overturned boat in Coventry Lak
e
and ended with the arrest of a local man who said he bought marijuana seeds
online from a company in Canada.

Henry Stirbl, 22, was arrested Sunday and charged with possession of drug
paraphernalia, possession of less than four ounces of marijuana and
operating a drug factory. The charges were filed after officers went to
Stirbl's residence on 109 Standish Road to question him on an overturned
boat that he had borrowed.

While Stirbl was being questioned, officers found marijuana plants growing
on the porch, which led to the discovery of other drugs, growing lights, a
scale and other various drug paraphernalia.

Police said Stirbl told them he bought marijuana seeds over the Internet
from an online company based in British Columbia. Local police have
contacted the Drug Enforcement Agency about the sale of marijuana seeds via
the Internet.

FBI officials in Boston this morning said they were unaware of similar case
s
involving marijuana seeds being purchased over the Internet, but were
positive that such a purchase in the United States would be illegal.