Police raid pot farm in Hawthorne Avenue apartment

Three people have been charged after Sault Ste. Marie police discovered what they term "an elaborate cannabis marijuana growing operation" in a Hawthorne Avenue apartment.

Officers seized an estimated 22 mature plants, 125-130 smaller plants and several bags of dried marijuana, as well as lights, ballasts, light reflectors, growing medium, fertilizers, trays, fans and venting.

Some firearms-related charges were also laid.

The following news release was issued by City Police at 7:40 a.m. this morning.

****************************************************************
On May 20th, 2003 at 11:09 a.m. Police Officers from the Joint Forces Drug Unit executed a Controlled Drug and Substance Act search warrant on two apartments on Hawthorne Avenue in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

Police discovered that one of the apartments was being used solely for an elaborate cannabis marijuana growing operation.

Police seized a large amount of metal halyde lights, ballasts, light reflectors, fluorescent lights, growing medium, fertilizers, trays, fans, venting as well as cannabis marijuana plants in various stages of growth.

As part of the search officers located a notebook describing marijuana growing particulars as well as a small amount of cannabis marijuana dried plant and at least two cannabis resin spliffs.

Initial seizure results estimate 22 mature plants, approximately 125-130 smaller plants along with several bags of dried marijuana well in excess of 30 grams.

No street value has been estimated for the drugs at this time.

During the search, officers also located numerous firearms unsafely stored along with numerous lots of unsafely stored ammunition.

At 1:05 p.m. Police Officers arrested and charged [a man], age 30 of 44 Hawthorne Ave. with two counts of Unsafe Storage of a Firearm and Ammunition, two counts of Possession of a Controlled Drug for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of a Controlled Drug and Production of a Controlled Drug.

A search of [the male]'s residence revealed approximately an ounce of cannabis resin along with a scale and a collection of glass vials.

At 4:40 p.m. officers arrested and charged a second male in connection with this drug seizure.

David Diotte, age 33 of 45 Grosvenor Ave. was arrested as he arrived and tried to leave quickly from the residence in his truck.

Diotte was charged with two counts of Possession of a Controlled Drug for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of a Controlled Drug and Production of a Controlled Drug.

At shortly before 9 p.m. Police Officers arrested and charged a third accused Richard Hurley, age 25 of 95 Paladin Ave. in connection with the discovery of the marijuana growing operation.

He has been charged with Possession of a Controlled Drug for the Purpose of Trafficking, Possession of a Controlled Drug and Production of a Controlled Drug.

All three accused will appear in court on June 30th.

****************************************************************