Deputies bust pot grower

Grand Island Dispatch, August 8, 2008

The Erie County Sheriff’s Department has arrested one man in an ongoing investigation into marijuana sales on Grand Island.

The department reported that its Special Weapons and Tactics team executed a search warrant at an Alt Boulevard address at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, and discovered a marijuana-growing operation that included 44 marijuana plants.

One man, whom the department declined to identify because of the ongoing investigation, was arrested and released with an appearance ticket. He was charged with misdemeanor criminal possession of marijuana in the fifth degree and was also charged with violating Section 3382 of public health law in growing marijuana.

“I’ll say this. It was not his first grow. He had an operation set up,” said Capt. Ronald L. Kenyon of the ECSD. “It was certainly well-organized, it was well put together.”

Kenyon said the man became a suspect after an active investigation that continues today, which began from local complaints.

“We are actively working the Town of Grand Island right now with our narcotics team, very actively working, through a lot of complaints we’ve had,” Kenyon said.

“I think it’s a growing problem, but I would not by any stretch limit it to the Island,” Kenyon added. “There’s a couple hot spots in the county right now that we’re hitting.”

“Our goal is to continue this investigation where it takes us, and I would certainly be optimistic that additional arrests in the near future are forthcoming,” Kenyon said.