Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jan 2007
Source: Hamilton Mountain News (CN ON)
Copyright: 2007 Brabant Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.hamiltonmountainnews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3415
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

MOUNTAIN GROW-OP'S WIRING PACKED POTENTIAL WALLOP

An East 24th Street home was evacuated and its hydro service cut off 
after police discovered what they say was a potentially explosive 
marijuana grow operation.

Sergeant Michael Webber said police found the home's electrical 
wiring had been dangerously altered after executing a mid-morning 
search warrant Jan. 11.

"Someone within the home grounded the electrical service into the 
residence's main gas line," he said.

"Obviously this has the potential for explosion. If the home had 
received an electrical surge it would have caused an ignition and it 
would have went up in flames -- not only the home itself but possibly 
the neighbouring homes."

Police seized 17 marijuana plants in varying stages of growth, 11 
grams of cannabis resin, 15 grams of hash, a 12-gauge shotgun and 
1.22-calibre rifle.

They estimate the street value of the drugs at $17,000.

A 34-year-old Hamilton man faces four charges for cultivation and 
possession of drugs, two charges for unauthorized possession of 
firearms and two counts of breaching a weapons prohibition.

Six exotic parrots at the home were also seized by the city's animal 
control department.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman