Hoquiam Police locate another illegal pot growing facility

Tuesday search turns up under 300 plants on Emerson Avenue

December 6, 2017 7:00 pm
HOQUIAM POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTO Hoquiam Police discovered another illegal marijuana grow in the 100 block of Emerson Avenue Tuesday. The concern now is the people who tended the plants have fled, leaving the plants to dry creating significant fire danger, according to Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers.
HOQUIAM POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTO Hoquiam Police discovered another illegal marijuana grow in the 100 block of Emerson Avenue Tuesday. The concern now is the people who tended the plants have fled, leaving the plants to dry creating significant fire danger, according to Hoquiam Police Chief Jeff Myers.

The Grays Harbor County Drug Task Force continues to locate illegal marijuana grow facilities in the region, including one Tuesday in Hoquiam.

“Hoquiam Police served a search warrant on a residence (Tuesday) in the 100 block of Emerson Avenue for a suspected marijuana grow,” said Hoqiam Police Chief Jeff Myers. “This residence yielded a grow much smaller than those which have been typically discovered as this was under 300 plants.”

Myers said the concern over the grows has shifted toward public safety as the now largely unattended and abandoned grow operations can pose a serious fire risk.

“Of major concern however was it appeared the live-in tender(s) had fled the scene, likely on or about Nov. 28,” Myers continued. “The marijuana plants were starting to get dried out under the high-voltage heat lamps, fans and ventilation system left running inside the structure.”

The home on Emerson was one of three searched that appeared to be owned by or otherwise related to the Chinese nationals who were part of the initial bust, which took place across three counties Nov. 28, said Myers.

“Two other houses were checked in Hoquiam, but neither had any evidence of a grow yet established,” he added.

Local fire departments have been warned to be cautious when responding to possible residential structure fires as it could be a grow gone bad, not an occupied family home.

“These structures have been modified with fans and ventilation systems cut through walls, floors and ceilings,” said Myers. “Plus the lights, ballasts and equipment hanging from the ceiling can be hazardous to firefighters entering a smoke-filled structure with limited visibility, not to mention the questionable electrical wiring.” The grow houses are also often filled with chemicals and fertilizers posing an additional risk.

Myers encourages the public to report any additional residences that may be housing additional illegal grow operations by calling 911 or Grays Harbor Dispatch at 360-533-8765.

“This has been a huge operation which has taken a great deal of work from the detectives in task force, plus all of the local agencies, surrounding agencies and federal partners,” said Myers. “The task force and local agencies will continue to work on the case and will spend the next several months sorting through evidence and working with prosecutors on the cases at hand.”