Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jan 2009
Source: Province, The (CN BC)
Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/letters.html
Website: http://www.canada.com/theprovince/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/476
Author: Stuart Hunter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada)

TODDLER'S 911 CALL LEADS COPS TO MARIJUANA GROW OPERATION

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes . .

He may not be able to talk quite yet but that didn't stop an 
11-month-old boy from inadvertently making a 911 call, which led 
Mounties to a White Rock home, where officers found a substantial 
marijuana grow-operation.

Responding to a 911 hang-up call, officers went to a house in the 
14800-block Goggs Avenue last Friday.

"When we finally gained entry, we found a gentleman who was not 
expecting to see the police and he was adamant he didn't call us," 
said White Rock RCMP Const. Janelle Canning.

The man tried to explain his young son didn't know how to dial a 
call, but it seems junior's fingers did the talking -- police saw the 
toddler playing with a telephone, randomly punching numbers.

"He was old enough to be fooling around, but not old enough to know 
where he was dialing. He was just barely walking," said Canning.

Inside the house, police found and seized a 500-plant pot-growing operation.

"There were two full rooms of plants," said Canning. "They were in 
the early stages of growth -- maybe a month or six weeks of growth."

A 29-year-old White Rock man is facing charges of mischief and 
production of a controlled substance. He is scheduled to appear in 
court in early April.

Ministry of Children and Family Development officials were called in 
to probe the incident. The investigation is ongoing.

The boy was released into the care of his mother, who is separated 
from the father and lives separately. The couple have joint custody 
of the tattle-tale tot.

Canning said this isn't the first time an arrest has resulted from an 
accidental 911 call from a child.

"We have had multiple times when a child has called police, but not 
when it has led us to find a marijuana grow operation," Canning said.
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