Pubdate: Sat, 14 Apr 2007
Source: Now, The (Surrey, CN BC)
Copyright: 2007 The Now Newspaper
Contact: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/forms/lettersform.html
Website: http://www.thenownewspaper.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1462
Author: Maureen Gulyas, Now Contributor

FIREFIGHTER BUSTED FOR GROW-OP

A Vancouver firefighter was arrested Thursday for operating a 
marijuana grow-op at his North Delta home.

Delta police seized 380 plants, with a street value of $140,000, from 
the house.

Const. Sharlene Brooks neither confirmed nor denied what the 
44-year-old man did for a living, but reliable sources and nearby 
residents confirmed that the man arrested Thursday morning is a 
Vancouver firefighter.

Brooks said police are unable to identify the individual because 
charges have not yet been laid. That is expected to happen sometime 
next week, at which time police will be able to release the suspect's name.

Police confirmed officers detained the man for several hours as they 
conducted a raid on his home. The suspect was eventually released 
from custody on a promise to appear in court at a later date.

It is believed the firefighter was stopped at the side of the road 
near his home by an unmarked police vehicle and taken into custody 
earlier that morning. A few hours later, members of Delta's drug 
section descended on the home to execute the warrant.

The suspect is married with three children, sources told the 
Optimist, a Now sister newspaper.

Police confirmed officers executed a warrant at 1:20 p.m. at a home 
in the 9200-block of 112th Street, across from Annieville elementary.

The warrant was executed in the quiet neighbourhood as residents, 
passing motorists and pedestrians looked on. A regular practice, 
police placed a sandwich board on the front lawn alerting the public 
officers were in the process of breaking down a marijuana grow-op.

Officers hauled out marijuana plants, fans and high-powered lights, 
the latter worth an estimated $7,000, according to police.

It is believed the grow operation was housed in the basement of the home.

News of the arrest, understandably, came as a shock to the Vancouver 
fire department.

"It's our job to break these things down," said a surprised public 
affairs officer Rob Jones-Cook.

He said the department could not comment specifically on the case 
because it had not been made aware of the situation. The first time 
senior officers heard about it was when the Optimist called asking 
for a statement.

"Should this be a true situation, appropriate action would be taken 
at that time," Jones-Cook said.

"We, as a fire department, expect all of our employees to demonstrate 
good judgment, honesty and personal integrity at all times," he said.

If it is true, Jones-Cook added it would be "very disappointing."

Ironically, the Vancouver fire department assigns two of its fire 
prevention officers to the Vancouver police department's Grow Busters 
Team. The fire prevention officers accompany police officers when 
they are taking down marijuana grow-ops.

"Marijuana grow operations are being found in multi-residential 
occupancies, including high rises, and the team has shut down as many 
as five marijuana grow operations per day. This program has proven to 
be a valid contribution to our concern for life safety, due to the 
hazards involved with grow-operations," the department's 2006 annual 
report to city council stated.

Delta police expressed concern the grow-op was being conducted across 
the street from an elementary school.

"This operation was in a residence very close to an elementary 
school, placing surrounding residents and children at risk of harm in 
the event of a fire or a grow-rip situation," Brooks said.

"These things cause significant risk to our Delta firefighters, Delta 
police and other emergency services personnel," Brooks added.

She pointed to a fire that occurred as a result of an indoor 
marijuana grow-op just two weeks ago in North Delta.

Two neighbouring homes under construction were also burned to the 
ground in that incident in the 11200-block of 87A Avenue, causing in 
excess of $700,000 damage.

"The fire department has concurred that the fire originated in an 
electrical component that was used to cultivate a large marijuana 
grow-op," Brooks said.

No one was injured in that fire.

Police are recommending charges of production of a controlled 
substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance.

Brooks said the investigation is continuing.
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