CAMBRIDGE HYDRO APOLOGIZES FOR WRONGFUL POT BUST

CAMBRIDGE -- A family whose house was raided by police who suspected a
marijuana-growing operation after an apparent jump in the home's electricity
use has received an apology from the city's hydro company.

Cambridge and North Dumfries Hydro did not properly calculate the hydro use
of the home before sending police to search for a home-grow marijuana
operation, according to the public apology released yesterday.

John Grotheer, president and chief executive of the hydro company, said an
internal investigation showed the family was wrongfully accused of stealing
hydro to grow marijuana.

"Your family was blameless, and we regret the disruption, embarrassment and
inconvenience this incident has caused you," reads the apology, which
Grotheer wrote.

Fung Han and Shiu Ng were caught by surprise July 24 when police broke down
their door after obtaining a search warrant.

Fung Han Ng was eating breakfast when she heard the door being forced open.
About 10 police officers ran toward her, put her hands behind her back and
told her she was under arrest for theft of hydro.

Investigators searched her home for any indication of a home-grow operation
but found nothing. They also searched the woman's 89-year-old mother, who
was changing in an upstairs bedroom.

When it became clear the family was innocent of any wrongdoing, police
apologized and the hydro company began an investigation.

"We accept full responsibility for our error," Grotheer said in the apology.
"We are taking steps to ensure it does not happen again."

Local police had previously conducted more than 100 theft-of-hydro searches
since the fall of 2000. In every one, officers found a marijuana operation.