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17 marijuana plants found after burglary
A report of a burglary Tuesday at a Lackawanna Avenue apartment house in Sloan led to the arrest of a Sloan man after police discovered 17 marijuana plants growing inside the building, using a sophisticated system.
Cheektowaga police officers arriving at 227 Lackawanna at 9:18 a.m. found that the burglars were gone, but statements from witnesses helped lead them to the discovery.
"Officers spoke to witnesses who stated they saw two white males and a vehicle at the location earlier," Cheektowaga Police Captain John Glascott said. "They removed property from the house and left."
Officers investigating at the house observed an open window on the first floor with its screen pushed in.
The officers entered the residence to look for possible additional intruders. There were none, but officers noticed that the door to an upstairs apartment appeared to have been kicked in.
Officers discovered the marijuana growing in an upstairs bedroom. A search warrant was obtained, and police confiscated several plants. Additional plants were discovered in a bedroom closet.
"It apparently was a somewhat sophisticated growing operation," Glascott said. "There were plants in various stages of growth, from seedlings to full-grown plants."
In addition to the 17 plants, officers confiscated lights, ballasts, exhaust, nutrients, fertilizer and other items used to grow the cannabis. The equipment and material were valued at $2,000. No estimate was given on the street value of the plants.
According to Glascott, discoveries of marijuana plant operations in Cheektowaga don't occur frequently, but they aren't altogether unusual, either.
"They're out there, and every so often we come across one," Glascott said. "When you're talking about $2,000 worth of equipment, you know a little bit about what you're doing. I can't get my tomato plants to grow."
The Sloan man arrested, Craig Little, 38, of Lackawanna Avenue was charged with criminal possession of marijuana, a felony, and one misdemeanor count of unlawful growing of cannabis.
Possession of marijuana is a misdemeanor unless there are more than eight ounces involved, which requires a felony charge.
A CSX Railroad police officer spotted a vehicle along Michael Drive that fit the description of the one used by the burglars. The officer found a marijuana plant inside the vehicle.
Two occupants in the vehicle fled, and a foot chase ensued. The CSX officer apprehended the pair. Their names were unavailable at press time.
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