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Smack bust leads to pot grow leads to ballast smoke December 4, 2007
ARCATA A traffic stop led to a heroin arrest, a later marijuana grow takedown and a smoking lighting system that Arcata Fire didnt bother to put out. Now, the original suspect is sought for re-arrest.
The sequence of events began Saturday, Nov. 24 at about 10:19 a.m., when Arcata Police Sgt. Bart Silvers of the Arcata Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Giuntoli Lane at U.S. Highway 101. The vehicle was driven by 25-year-old Benjamin Foster of Eureka.
Silvers learned that Foster was driving on a suspended drivers license and he was arrested. Foster was allegedly in possession of marijuana, concentrated cannabis (hash), a scale, packaging materials and about 11grams of heroin.
Foster was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility charges of possession of a narcotic for sales, transportation of a narcotic for sales, possession of concentrated cannabis, driving on a suspended license and displaying false registration tabs.
On Monday, Nov. 26, utilizing information turned up during Fosters arrest, the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, Humboldt County Sheriffs Office and the Arcata Police Department executed search warrants at a self-storage unit in Arcata and a residence located on the 2100 block of Frederick Avenue.
During the search on Frederick Avenue, agents located an indoor hydroponic marijuana cultivation consisting of 214 mature marijuana plants and 205 immature marijuana plants. HCDTF requested assistance from the Arcata Fire Protection District due to hazardous wiring into the main fuse box and wires hanging throughout the residence near water sources.
While Arcata Fire was at the residence, a ballast in one of the grow rooms started to smoke and catch fire. I just happened to look down at one of the ballasts on the floor, and smoke started rolling out, so I leaned out the window and called for an extinguisher, said Assistant Fire Chief Desmond Cowan. The smoke then stopped, so he didnt use the extinguisher, and DTF agents subsequently dismantled the grow system.
Cowan said the home had been heavily modified for cultivation, creating numerous fire hazards. Jury-rigged wiring, with bare wires twisted together ran through the house, connected to open junction boxes lying on the floor. Holes had been punched through walls and ceilings, creating easy paths for fire.
Agents seized the marijuana plants and grow equipment and located and seized approximately 102 grams of marijuana bud, a triple-beam scale and paperwork. They also found a sophisticated concentrated cannabis operation and seized about six pounds of shake marijuana.
During the search of the self-storage unit, agents located and seized about 111.2 pounds of marijuana bud packaged in half-pound and one-pound bags. Agents also seized a John Deere Quad-runner.
Foster, who had been released on bail Nov. 24, was not located during the searches. HCDTF has requested an arrest warrant for him.�
Eye Staff Report
ARCATA A traffic stop led to a heroin arrest, a later marijuana grow takedown and a smoking lighting system that Arcata Fire didnt bother to put out. Now, the original suspect is sought for re-arrest.
The sequence of events began Saturday, Nov. 24 at about 10:19 a.m., when Arcata Police Sgt. Bart Silvers of the Arcata Police Department conducted a traffic stop on Giuntoli Lane at U.S. Highway 101. The vehicle was driven by 25-year-old Benjamin Foster of Eureka.
Silvers learned that Foster was driving on a suspended drivers license and he was arrested. Foster was allegedly in possession of marijuana, concentrated cannabis (hash), a scale, packaging materials and about 11grams of heroin.
Foster was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility charges of possession of a narcotic for sales, transportation of a narcotic for sales, possession of concentrated cannabis, driving on a suspended license and displaying false registration tabs.
On Monday, Nov. 26, utilizing information turned up during Fosters arrest, the Humboldt County Drug Task Force, Humboldt County Sheriffs Office and the Arcata Police Department executed search warrants at a self-storage unit in Arcata and a residence located on the 2100 block of Frederick Avenue.
During the search on Frederick Avenue, agents located an indoor hydroponic marijuana cultivation consisting of 214 mature marijuana plants and 205 immature marijuana plants. HCDTF requested assistance from the Arcata Fire Protection District due to hazardous wiring into the main fuse box and wires hanging throughout the residence near water sources.
While Arcata Fire was at the residence, a ballast in one of the grow rooms started to smoke and catch fire. I just happened to look down at one of the ballasts on the floor, and smoke started rolling out, so I leaned out the window and called for an extinguisher, said Assistant Fire Chief Desmond Cowan. The smoke then stopped, so he didnt use the extinguisher, and DTF agents subsequently dismantled the grow system.
Cowan said the home had been heavily modified for cultivation, creating numerous fire hazards. Jury-rigged wiring, with bare wires twisted together ran through the house, connected to open junction boxes lying on the floor. Holes had been punched through walls and ceilings, creating easy paths for fire.
Agents seized the marijuana plants and grow equipment and located and seized approximately 102 grams of marijuana bud, a triple-beam scale and paperwork. They also found a sophisticated concentrated cannabis operation and seized about six pounds of shake marijuana.
During the search of the self-storage unit, agents located and seized about 111.2 pounds of marijuana bud packaged in half-pound and one-pound bags. Agents also seized a John Deere Quad-runner.
Foster, who had been released on bail Nov. 24, was not located during the searches. HCDTF has requested an arrest warrant for him.�
