FIREFIGHTER'S GROW-OP CHARGE GOES TO COURT

A Vancouver firefighter charged with running a marijuana grow-op in
his North Delta home will appear in Surrey provincial court next month.

Randall Jones, 44, is scheduled to appear June 20 on one count each of
production of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of
trafficking. His wife, Shirley Hum, is facing the same charges.

Police raided the home at 9161 112th St. on April 12 and found 380 pot
plants with an estimated street value of $140,000. They were seized
along with grow equipment valued at $7,000. The house is just across
the street from Annieville elementary school.

Jones, the father of three children and a 24-year veteran of the
Vancouver fire department, is on administrative leave without pay
pending the outcome of the court proceedings.

"If somebody is found guilty there would be meetings between that
party, administration and the union to discuss what would be done,"
Vancouver fire Capt. Rob Jones-Cook said Thursday.

"I don't want to get into a 'what if' discussion about this. He's
innocent until proven guilty."

Jones has served as a coach with the Delta Lacrosse Association and
also coached several teams of high school students over the years,
recently leading one to a provincial tournament.

Jones was an all-star in the Western Lacrosse Association, playing for
more than a decade for various teams, including the New Westminster
Salmonbellies.