Pubdate: Fri, 25 Jul 2003
Source: Oakland Tribune, The (CA)
Copyright: 2003 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
Contact:  http://www.oaklandtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/314
Author: Harry Harris, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)

POLICE SEIZE $250,000 IN MARIJUANA IN RAID

Two Men, Including School Teacher, Charged With Cultivation,
Possession; Others Sought

OAKLAND -- An anonymous tip and a productive search of garbage bags
led to the seizure of more than $250,000 in marijuana from a hillside
home, police said Thursday.

Two men were arrested at the four-bedroom home in the 5100 block of
Redwood Road that offers a panoramic view of San Francisco for $3,400
a month. Two other suspects are being sought for questioning.

Arrested were Jory Wolf, 24, who told police he was unemployed, and
Brian Friedman, 23, who said he was an elementary school teacher and
tutor in Walnut Creek. Wolf declined to comment further.

They were charged with possession of marijuana for sale and
cultivation of marijuana.

Two other suspects were out of town, police said.

Sgt. Ersie Joyner III said 10 pounds of packaged marijuana and about
100 marijuana plants in various stages -- from seedlings to plants 5
feet tall -- were found inside the home. Police said most of the
plants were grown in an attic that featured special lighting, an
elaborate irrigation system and special locks to prevent break-ins.

The home also yielded dozens of bongs -- devices used for smoking pot
- -- including one that was 6 feet long. "That one was the biggest I've
ever seen," said Joyner.

Police also discovered dozens of written logs and horticulture books
with plant feeding and watering schedules.

The suspects said the marijuana was to be used for medicinal purposes.
However, police said they found documents with names, payments and
orders ranging from $100 to $940.

The special police operation began Tuesday with an anonymous tip to
the drug hotline that residents at the home were planting marijuana.
The Beat Health Unit responded.

Police Officer Karla Rush -- a problem-solving officer in a police
services unit -- searched garbage bags at the home that had been put
out.

She found marijuana residue and growing agents that allowed police to
obtain a search warrant, which was served at 2:30 p.m.

Neighbors said they were not surprised to learn about the pot bust.
Ome woman said "they party a lot."

A man said "they always had a lot of people over there. I would see
people passed out in cars."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake