By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A Seattle resident was arrested yesterday after PUD summoned deputies to an apparent electricity diversion and turned up an unlawful marijuana growing operation in rural Centralia.
Employees of Lewis County PUD were disconnecting the power at a home on the 700 block of Lincoln Creek Road yesterday, according to the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies called out about 1:45 p.m. arrived and detected an “overwhelming odor of marijuana,’ Chief Deputy Dusty Breen said this morning.
Drug detectives obtained a search warrant and confiscated 89 potted plants plus 220 plants which had been hanging to dry, Breen said.
The search of the residence, greenhouses and shop building also led to to the seizure of cash, a vehicle and a handgun, Breen said.
Biniam Y. Gebremariem, 31, from Seattle was arrested and booked into the Lewis County Jail for unlawful manufacturing of marijuana, unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful use of a building for drug purposes, according to the sheriff’s office.
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter