ROYAL CITY, Wash. (31MAR2016) – A Grant County Sheriff’s deputy, acting on a tip from a citizen, contacted detectives with the Interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team (INET) to report a possible illegal marijuana growing operation in the rural Royal City area. INET detectives followed up on the tip, and their investigation led to search warrants for the residence and shop building at 11622 Road 11 SW.
On the morning of March 30, 2016, INET detectives, Grant County Sheriff’s deputies and Royal City Police officers served the warrants and discovered an elaborate, illegal marijuana grow operation in the shop building. Nearly 100 marijuana plants, in various stages of development, were seized from the property. Detectives spent several hours dismantling and seizing the equipment used for the grow operation.
The search of the residence yielded additional marijuana plants and packaged harvested product, as well as chemicals and equipment used for growing the plants.
The homeowner, Stephen M. Brown, (age 27), was arrested for manufacturing marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to deliver/distribute. Additional charges may be filed on his live-in girlfriend.
A Washington State Patrol (WSP) Bomb Technician was called to the residence after suspected illegal explosives were discovered in a safe. WSP took custody of the explosives and will transfer them to the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms) for disposal. WSP and ATF will determine if additional charges will be filed.
Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones said, “Citizen tips work. We want to encourage residents to continue their vigilance in helping area law enforcement get and keep these operations out of our communities.”
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CR#16GS02339
PR76/AGT4
Sharon Palmerton
Public Information Officer
[email protected]
509-760-6314
Address/Location
Grant County Sheriff's Office
35 C St NW
Ephrata, WA 98823
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 509-754-2011
