Medical pot raids hone in on local businesses

Federal agents executed search warrants at two medical marijuana facilities in Walled Lake on Tuesday, April 12.

In conjunction with those raids, agents were disbursed to private homes and businesses in Novi, Detroit, Commerce Township and Romulus.

According to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Group Supervisor Andrew Eiseman, federal agents, working in tandem with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department, conducted raids at the Caregivers of America facility located at 1020 Decker Road in Walled Lake.

Walled Lake was the first lakes area community to adopt an ordinance regulating medical marijuana facilities. The city issued a license to Caregivers of America last August.

According to state law, each caregiver is allowed 12 plants per patient and can service up to five patients at a time in an enclosed and secure facility.

Searches were also conducted at another branch of Caregivers of America, located at 45700 W. 12 Mile in Novi. Both are owned by Romel Casab.

In connection with Romel’s places of business, his home in the 3300 block of Benstein Road in Commerce Township was also searched.

Federal agents expanded their search to properties of Walled Lake business owner John Semma. Raids were conducted at both his home in the 800 block of E. Walled Lake Drive and his business, Bayside Sports Grille, located at 142 E. Walled Lake Drive.

“Federal agents blocked the entryway into the restaurant,” said Walled Lake City Councilman Casey Ambrose. “When I came by around 3 p.m., the restaurant was reopened.”

Semma’s strip club, the Coliseum Bar and Grill on Eight Mile Road in Detroit, was also raided, along with a commercial building on Northline Road in Romulus, according to Eiseman, who declined to comment on what if any items were seized during the raids at the properties searched.

“It’s an ongoing investigation,” he said. “I can’t comment further.”

Calls to Semma seeking comment were unanswered prior to press time.