Pubdate: Fri, 18 Feb 2000
Source: Capital Times, The  (WI)
Copyright: 2000 The Capital Times
Contact:  http://www.thecapitaltimes.com/
Author: Jason Shepard

DENTIST TELLS COPS THAT SOMEONE ELSE WAS GROWING POT

SUN PRAIRIE - After police discovered what they called a "sophisticated"
marijuana growing operation in a garage at a Sun Prairie dentist's office,
the owner pointed the finger at man who was a friend and a patient.

Court documents filed this week allege that Dr. Blair Moldenhauer, 46, said
Stephen Smith of Madison was running a marijuana operation out of a
building adjacent to Moldenhauer Dental Associates, 238 W. Main St.

When confronted by state investigators after a long stakeout, Moldenhauer
tried to distance himself from the situation and said Smith, 46, was
"actually running the operation."

On Monday, both Moldenhauer and Smith were arrested on charges of
manufacturing marijuana. The arrests came after state and Sun Prairie drug
investigators raided the garage and found almost five pounds of marijuana
and 27 marijuana plants in various stages of growth.

The search came after a monthlong investigation in which agents monitored
the garage via surveillance cameras and used high-tech thermal imaging
equipment. The investigation began after the Columbia County Sheriff's
Department received a tip that Moldenhauer was producing marijuana in his
garage.

The search warrant said the anonymous tipster provided detailed information
and said he or she had been inside the garage and had seen the operation.

The Sun Prairie Police Department received a similar tip four years ago but
did not initiate an investigation, according to the search warrant.

But "intelligence" collected by the Police Department indicated that
Moldenhauer had been "involved in the possession and distribution'' of
marijuana "for some time."

On Jan. 28, state Special Agents Edward Wall and Lisa Wilson went to the
property at about 4 a.m. and collected evidence used to obtain the search
warrant. The garage doors felt hot to the touch but it was only 3 degrees
outside; there was a humming noise coming from the garage; and the smell of
marijuana was drifting from where the garage door met the door frame.

The video surveillance began on Feb. 3, and videotapes caught Moldenhauer
and another man enter and leave the garage on many occasions.

On Feb. 8, agents used a thermal imager that detects heat being emitted
from objects.

"The structure appeared to be 'heat soaked,' that is to say that the
structure had a large source or sources of heat emitting from inside the
building," the warrant application alleged.

In Monday's raid, agents discovered the marijuana operation could only be
located by going through a crawl space that was secured by a padlock, the
warrant said.

Several types of pills were found, along with a "Cocaine Consumer's
Handbook" and razor blades, a mirror and a cocaine grinder. The warrant,
however, makes no mention of any cocaine found.

Later on Monday, Moldenhauer, with his attorney present, told agents that
Smith ran "grow operations" out of his garage. He also said all of the
equipment belonged to Smith.

Moldenhauer's statements were used as a basis for a search warrant of
Smith's house at 33 North St. in Madison. Agents there found 33 bags of
marijuana, but the warrant return did not state how much the bags weighed.
Also seized were keys to the Sun Prairie garage, pill containers with
Moldenhauer's office labels and various drug paraphernalia.

Both men are charged with manufacturing marijuana. Authorities say more
arrests are possible.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D