Login

You are not currently logged in.

Investigators find 950 pot plants in a house

In the course of investigating a Commerce Township resident accused of stealing natural gas, a Consumers Energy employee reportedly came across a large marijuana growing operation on Tamarron Court on Friday, July 27.

During his investigation of the residence, the utility employee reportedly observed numerous marijuana plants after looking through the home’s windows. He then contacted the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.

The Oakland County Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET) then obtained a search warrant for the residence. During the subsequent search, NET personnel reportedly located the suspect, 39-year-old Lionell Deshawn Hicks, inside.

Investigators allegedly found approximately 950 marijuana plants, a .45-caliber handgun, scales, packaging material, approximately 20 pounds of usable marijuana, proofs of residency, other documents, and $800 in U.S. currency.

The suspect was arrested and lodged at the Oakland County Jail.

Hicks was arraigned on Sunday, July 29 before a magistrate on one count of delivering or manufacturing over 45 kilograms of marijuana, a 15-year felony; and one count of delivering or manufacturing of 5 to 45 kilograms of marijuana, a 7-year felony.

Hicks has prior state and federal convictions for possession with intent to manufacture marijuana, according to an Oakland County Sheriff’s Department press release.

Hicks’ bond was set at $100,000 cash.

2 Responses to Investigators find 950 pot plants in a house

  1. Martin Logan

    August 7, 2012 at 3:49 pm

    “During his investigation of the residence, the utility employee reportedly observed numerous marijuana plants after looking through the home’s windows. He then contacted the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.”

    What legal precedent allows employees of Consumers Energy to trespass and peep into windows?

    Are they at all familiar with Michigan’s Castle Doctrine?

    “(a) The individual against whom deadly force or force other than deadly force is used is in the process of breaking and entering a dwelling or business premises or committing home invasion or has broken and entered a dwelling or business premises or committed home invasion and is still present in the dwelling or business premises…”

    It’s damn hard to show your ID badge when you’re a peeper and lacking proper ID, Hicks could have LEGALLY shot this fellow under Castle Doctrine.

    Consumers Energy = FAIL

  2. AJ

    August 8, 2012 at 9:51 pm

    …and yet another small business gets shut down instead of adding to the township’s tax rolls.

    I say legalize marijuana and tax it. Then maybe we could afford to fix our roads and bridges.

You must be logged in to post a comment Login