Housefire call turns into drug investigation
Geddes Police investigators remove evidence after marijuana is found growing, at a housefire call on State Fair Boulevard
/ Photo by Action News photojournalist Jack Estabrook
"A fairly large operation for this area" is the way Town of Geddes Police Chief, Vic Gillette, describes a marijuana growing operation, found
after a housefire call in Lakeland early Monday morning.
Firefighters were called to 795 State Fair Boulevard about 5:15am and, as they started to fight the basement fire, Gillette says they found 40 - 45 marijuana plants. Gillette says the flames burned through plastic sheeting set up around the plants.
After the fire was doused, Geddes Police investigators combed the basement, and the house, for evidence. About mid-afternoon, a town pickup pulled into the home's driveway, and was loaded up with the remains of lights, bagged items and other paraphernalia which the chief says came from all over the house. It's being analyzed now, at the Syracuse Police crime lab.
Chief Gillette says the home was being rented, but the occupants were away. He says they're aware of the fire and the investigation, and are coming back to talk to investigators. A housesitter got out of the burning home. She, apparently, was not part of the growing operation, according to Gillette, though 'obviously she knew' about the operation. Dogs in the home got out safely, though a cat died in the smoke.
Gillette believes charges will be filed, and the District Attorney's office is already involved in the investigation.
