Herb Fellow
New Member
An 8-foot alligator and more than 150 marijuana plants were among the spoils when police raided a Roseville man's home. A multi-jurisdictional investigation targeting marijuana growers in southeast Michigan, which started with Shelby Township police, has resulted in the arrests of several people and the confiscation of more than 500 pot plants in various stages of growth, said Special Agent John Arvabutis of the Detroit Drug Enforcement Agency office.
Arvabutis said a single organization may be responsible for the marijuana growing. He refused to elaborate whether police arrested a ringleader. "We conducted numerous search warrants throughout the region against the organization and its members in an attempt to disrupt and dismantle their activities," said Arvabutis.
Roseville police culminated a separate, unrelated investigation with the arrest of a 39-year-old Roseville man at his house in the 17000 block of O'Neil Street. That's where they found the alligator and marijuana plants. Roseville officers also raided a home Monday in the area of 10 Mile Road and Lawn Street where they confiscated 70 marijuana plants.
Roseville police charged Marcus Wellington Maier with manufacturing marijuana, a 4-year felony and maintaining a drug house, a 2-year misdemeanor. Identical charges are pending against a 47-year-old man. Maier was not at home when police raided his house. He is being held in Macomb County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bond after his arraignment in 39th District Court on Monday.
Roseville police confiscated 150 indoor hydroponic marijuana plants in various stages of growth. They also found the alligator in Maier's home, according to Deputy Police Chief James Berlin. Roseville City Manager Steve Truman said exotic animals are prohibited by city ordinance. He said reptiles such as this alligator can be confiscated by police.
"Before going into the house, our officers knew it was in there," Truman said. The alligator was turned over to the Macomb County Animal Shelter, which will give the animal to a herpetologist, according to Sue Jeroue, chief animal control officer for the county. The alligator will either stay with the herpetologist for his classes on reptiles and amphibians or be sent to a sanctuary in southern Florida, Jeroue said.
Berlin said Roseville officers seized numerous grow lights, planting beds and other items associated with the manufacturing of marijuana grown indoors. Police also seized automobiles associated with the operation, cash, firearms and other assets from the sale of illegal narcotics.
"The investigation is continuing," Berlin said. "We expect more arrests." "Operation Weed Whacker" was led by agents from the Detroit Drug Enforcement Agency and Shelby Township police. Several individuals were arrested with the help of police in Roseville, Shelby Township, Eastpointe, Fraser, Hazel Park, Ferndale and Dearborn.Shelby Township police Chief Robert Lehman said his drug officers were working on tips regarding residents growing marijuana in their basements. He said the information was shared with the DEA because the local investigation started growing in size.
"We had valid information to execute a search warrant on a home in Shelby Township and it got pretty widespread," Lehman said. Arvabutis said he didn't know exactly how much marijuana was seized because police are still taking an inventory. He said all of the marijuana discovered was brought to the police stations in the jurisdiction where it was found.
Source: Macomb Daily
Copyright: 2005, The Macomb Daily
Contact: Gordon Wilczynski, Macomb Daily Staff Writer
Website: Macomb Daily : Police nab 8-foot gator on marijuana raid 05/21/08
Arvabutis said a single organization may be responsible for the marijuana growing. He refused to elaborate whether police arrested a ringleader. "We conducted numerous search warrants throughout the region against the organization and its members in an attempt to disrupt and dismantle their activities," said Arvabutis.
Roseville police culminated a separate, unrelated investigation with the arrest of a 39-year-old Roseville man at his house in the 17000 block of O'Neil Street. That's where they found the alligator and marijuana plants. Roseville officers also raided a home Monday in the area of 10 Mile Road and Lawn Street where they confiscated 70 marijuana plants.
Roseville police charged Marcus Wellington Maier with manufacturing marijuana, a 4-year felony and maintaining a drug house, a 2-year misdemeanor. Identical charges are pending against a 47-year-old man. Maier was not at home when police raided his house. He is being held in Macomb County Jail in lieu of $5,000 cash bond after his arraignment in 39th District Court on Monday.
Roseville police confiscated 150 indoor hydroponic marijuana plants in various stages of growth. They also found the alligator in Maier's home, according to Deputy Police Chief James Berlin. Roseville City Manager Steve Truman said exotic animals are prohibited by city ordinance. He said reptiles such as this alligator can be confiscated by police.
"Before going into the house, our officers knew it was in there," Truman said. The alligator was turned over to the Macomb County Animal Shelter, which will give the animal to a herpetologist, according to Sue Jeroue, chief animal control officer for the county. The alligator will either stay with the herpetologist for his classes on reptiles and amphibians or be sent to a sanctuary in southern Florida, Jeroue said.
Berlin said Roseville officers seized numerous grow lights, planting beds and other items associated with the manufacturing of marijuana grown indoors. Police also seized automobiles associated with the operation, cash, firearms and other assets from the sale of illegal narcotics.
"The investigation is continuing," Berlin said. "We expect more arrests." "Operation Weed Whacker" was led by agents from the Detroit Drug Enforcement Agency and Shelby Township police. Several individuals were arrested with the help of police in Roseville, Shelby Township, Eastpointe, Fraser, Hazel Park, Ferndale and Dearborn.Shelby Township police Chief Robert Lehman said his drug officers were working on tips regarding residents growing marijuana in their basements. He said the information was shared with the DEA because the local investigation started growing in size.
"We had valid information to execute a search warrant on a home in Shelby Township and it got pretty widespread," Lehman said. Arvabutis said he didn't know exactly how much marijuana was seized because police are still taking an inventory. He said all of the marijuana discovered was brought to the police stations in the jurisdiction where it was found.
Source: Macomb Daily
Copyright: 2005, The Macomb Daily
Contact: Gordon Wilczynski, Macomb Daily Staff Writer
Website: Macomb Daily : Police nab 8-foot gator on marijuana raid 05/21/08
