A FortisBC technician disconnects power to an Oleander Drive home where police found an alleged marijuana grow operation on the morning of March 10. A man who lives at the home is facing charges of production of a controlled substance for the purposes of trafficking. Photo by Paul Everest - Click on picture for larger image
OSOYOOS TIMES-March 17, 2010
By Paul Everest – Osoyoos Times
An Osoyoos man is facing possible charges of production of a controlled substance for the purposes of trafficking after police uncovered and dismantled an alleged marijuana grow operation on Oleander Drive on March 10.
Several members of the Osoyoos-Oliver RCMP executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act search warrant just before 10:30 a.m. that morning at a small white bungalow at 4219 Oleander Dr.
RCMP spokesman Cpl. Jason Bayda said police found 12 marijuana plants in the residence including five full marijuana plants “with bud” and seven smaller “clone” plants.
The man who was arrested is scheduled to appear in court in May.
Bayda would not say what drew police to the alleged grow operation since matter is still under investigation.
The house stands on a property that extends to the shore of Osoyoos Lake and a Chevrolet pickup truck was parked in the driveway while another vehicle could be seen under a tarp near the side of the home.
When police began to leave the scene just before noon, crews from FortisBC arrived to disconnect power to the home.
Bayda said anytime an alleged grow operation is found in a residence, the electricity to the home is turned off so that an inspection of the residence’s wiring can be performed.
Marnie Douglas, a FortisBC spokeswoman, said in most cases where a grow operation has been set up in a residence, the home’s electrical infrastructure has been altered to accommodate plant growing.
Such alterations pose a safety risk, she said, so the power would be turned off.
Before it could be turned back on, the homeowner would be responsible to have an electrician come into the residence to inspect wiring and outlets to make sure the home’s electrical infrastructure is safe again.
Once FortisBC receives an affidavit from an electrician that the home’s electrical systems are safe again, the power would be reconnected.
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