INFORMATION RELEASE

On June 12, 2015 at about 4:30 in the afternoon, officers from multiple agencies including the Juneau Police Department, Alaska State Troopers, and federal officers served a search warrant on a residence in the 10000 block of Dock Street, which is off Fritz Cove Road.

Officers ultimately collected one hundred and forty-one live, growing marijuana plants in various stages. The smallest plants were seedlings and the largest stood three feet high. Officers also collected enough dried marijuana that loosely packed, filled a 55 gallon garbage bag. In addition to the marijuana, officers collected a handgun, a ballistic vest, cash, and elaborate growing equipment including lights and inverters. The man had a multiple camera surveillance system that fed into a computer in the living room.

The man who lives at the house where the grow was located was found to be out on a skiff nearby and he refused to come to land to talk to officers. He yelled an obscenity at a JPD officer who tried to talk to him and took off in the skiff. The Coast Guard sent out a patrol boat to check on the man but he had not yet been contacted at the time of this release.

The investigation is continuing. The crime being investigated is misconduct involving a controlled substance in the 4th degree, a C felony. The standard to commit that crime is that someone possesses more than 25 marijuana plants.

When officers left the scene with a van full of marijuana and a pickup full of grow equipment several local residents were out of their houses and near the road. One teenage boy gave the thumbs up sign to the officers, apparently happy the grow was no longer operating in that residential area.

All factual allegations contained in this release are based upon preliminary investigation and are subject to change or clarification as the investigation continues. Any charges reported in this release are merely accusations and all persons named in this release are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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