Police seized about 160 marijuana plants growing inside a home in Centralia on Wednesday. / Courtesy photo by Centralia Police Department
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Centralia police seized roughly 160 marijuana plants when they served a search warrant at a home on Kulien Street in the north end of town yesterday.
The action followed a week-long investigation by the department’s Anti-Crime unit, according to a news release.
Police say the plants were in various stages of growth, from starts to fully mature.
The man who lives in the house said it was medical marijuana, but he “had way too many plants for medical marijuana,” Centralia detective Sgt. Pat Fitzgerald said today.
Generally, police look upon a supply of 15 of 16 plants to be in line with the many rules under which people are allowed to grow medical marijuana, according to Fitzgerald.
The man had documentation that he is allowed medical marijuana, as well as documentation for another person, the sergeant said.
Arrested was Bradley S. Andrews, 56, of Centralia. He was booked into the Lewis County Jail for unlawful manufacture of marijuana and unlawful possession of a firearm. He is a convicted felon and not allowed to possess guns, Fitzgerald said.
Officers went to the house about 10 a.m. and Andrews was the only one there at the time. The event was fairly “low key”, Fitzgerald said.
Officers found seedlings being cultivated in a laundry room, medium-sized plants in a bedroom and some as large as 6-feet tall in the garage, according to Fitzgerald. The lighting used in the garage cast the orange glow shown in the photos, he said.
Also recovered were a pistol, two rifles and equipment commonly used for indoor marijuana cultivation, such as irrigation, ventilation and light systems, according to the news release.
The plants seized are being stored until they are dry and then will be destroyed, probably by incineration, Fitzgerald said.
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This news story was updated at 1:09 p.m. on Thursday Oct. 14, 2010
Police seized about 160 marijuana plants growing inside a home in Centralia on Wednesday. / Courtesy photo by Centralia Police Department
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter