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 Wronguy
Registered: 03/05/05
Posts: 4,450
Last seen: 1 year, 11 months
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 High electric bill leads to marijuana bust 
#6118434 - 09/30/06 02:52 PM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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http://www.shakopeenews.com/node/722
High electric bill leads to marijuana bust
SAVAGE — A higher-than-normal electric bill was used by police to help shut down an alleged marijuana-growing operation in the city.
Officers from Savage, Washington County and the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) took part in a raid Sept. 19 on a home at 14262 Allen Blvd. That raid resulted in charges against two men and the confiscation of 380 marijuana plants.
After learning about a possible marijuana-growing operation at the home, police launched an investigation and conducted surveillance during August and September.
In addition to seeing Chris Edward Zimmerman, 36, of Burnsville, visit the home on a regular basis, police noted there were two irregularly placed vents coming out from the basement of the home. Using thermal imaging, officers located a heat source in the basement.
Law enforcement also obtained the electric usage records for the home from May through September and determined that the usage was three to five times greater than for the same time period in the previous year.
On the day of the raid, police simultaneously served search warrants on Zimmerman’s home and the home of Joseph Thomas Jaspersen, 28, of Robbinsdale. Jaspersen also owns the home on Allen Boulevard.
Zimmerman and Jaspersen are each charged with second-degree conspiracy to manufacture or sell a controlled substance, a felony, and aiding or abetting the manufacture or sale a controlled substance.
Charges against a tenant at the home are being reviewed by the Scott County attorney. The tenant allegedly told police when they entered the home with the search warrant that the marijuana-growing operation belonged to Zimmerman and Jaspersen and that the two men harvested the plants together every six to eight weeks. Zimmerman was also present when the search warrant was executed. Another search warrant, served on a storage unit leased by Zimmerman, allegedly netted several quantities of marijuana seeds.
In addition to the marijuana plants, police said they also seized equipment used in the growing operation, including fluorescent lighting arrangements with timers, fans, electric pumps and hoses, watering systems, plastic bags, chemical charts, fertilizers and calendars showing grow schedules.
Police said the plants, if grown to maturity, harvested and dried, would produced approximately 95 pounds of marijuana.
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 SuperD
Lophophiend
Registered: 10/05/03
Posts: 5,848
Loc: My stash box
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Re: High electric bill leads to marijuana bust [Re: Wronguy]
#6118539 - 09/30/06 03:32 PM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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<<Law enforcement also obtained the electric usage records for the home from May through September and determined that the usage was three to five times greater than for the same time period in the previous year.>>
While I'm not necessarily for someone who steals electricity to help keep their op under the radar, what other choice do growers have in a situation such as this? If it means the difference between an otherwise good citizen who grows getting busted, I'd much rather see them not face jail time for their hobby by obtaining their electricity through illicit means. It's a sick and sad world when you have to do something illegal like steal electricity in order to hide another illegal activity.
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Manoa said:
I need to stop spending all my money on plants and take up a cheaper hobby, like heroin.
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roby000
me
Registered: 02/28/05
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Loc: nazi poland
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Re: High electric bill leads to marijuana bust [Re: SuperD]
#6118551 - 09/30/06 03:37 PM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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well its not a hobby when you are growing more than 300 plants.
im sure johny one plant isnt an issue. cases like this though are a dime a dozen and i dont really feel sorry for a guy trying to grow almost 400 plants.
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Teemfubu
Stranger
Registered: 09/28/06
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Re: High electric bill leads to marijuana bust [Re: roby000]
#6119303 - 09/30/06 08:22 PM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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Seriously I think it's outrageous to grow 380 plants. The fact is, here in the US it's illegal. I like to smoke it, but that doesn't mean that making millions from dirt is OK.
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fireworks_god
SexyButt McDanger
Registered: 03/12/02
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Loc: Red Panda Village
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Re: High electric bill leads to marijuana bust [Re: SuperD]
#6119355 - 09/30/06 08:41 PM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
SuperD said:
It's a sick and sad world when you have to do something illegal like steal electricity in order to hide another illegal activity.
I'm sure if they were growing personal quantities, they would have A.) Not got busted, and B.) would not have to resort to activities that actually are justified as being illegal.
If everyone grew their own, there would be no more War on Drugs.
   
Peace. 
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If I should die this very moment
I wouldn't fear
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Loving every breath of you
  
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thetonebone72
Hunter -Gatherer
Registered: 03/11/06
Posts: 1,028
Loc: Oregon
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Re: High electric bill leads to marijuana bust [Re: fireworks_god]
#6119632 - 09/30/06 10:06 PM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
fireworks_god said:
If everyone grew their own, there would be no more War on Drugs.
Amen to that, brother. 
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Hunt On, Good Fellow
  
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BlindLemon
waves
Registered: 04/20/06
Posts: 628
Loc: so cal
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Re: High electric bill leads to marijuana bust [Re: Teemfubu]
#6119661 - 09/30/06 10:18 PM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Teemfubu said:
Seriously I think it's outrageous to grow 380 plants. The fact is, here in the US it's illegal. I like to smoke it, but that doesn't mean that making millions from dirt is OK.
Thoes guys who grow all that pot... they suplie the streets, which suplies you... or at least most of us.
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Im a fucking spiral..
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BobDole
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Re: High electric bill leads to marijuana bust [Re: BlindLemon]
#6120109 - 10/01/06 01:54 AM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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if you've ever bought grass from someone off the streets or even from a cannabis club, it probably came from a guy like that. So before you dudes start talking shit about a guy whos making a living by doing something that all of us probably wish we were doing (growing bomb ass weed), you need to think about all the highs you've gotten because of people like that.
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FeedYourHead
Stranger
Registered: 08/22/06
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Re: High electric bill leads to marijuana bust [Re: Teemfubu]
#6122103 - 10/01/06 08:49 PM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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Agreed bob...teamfubu listen to your self you sound like an dea agent...the fact that its illeagle donsn't mean a damn thing...the fact of the matter is its a medicinal plant given to us by god himself with the ability to heal with out harmful or fatal side affects commonly found with pharma. drugs. Do some research and look up why marijuana really is illeagle. You sound like you've been brainwashed by the govt. Just because something is illeagle doesn't mean it's bad or harmful. And if you smoke then you should be grateful that there are people out there willing to go to jail for many years just to get you and millions of others there weed...otherwise you would be put in a position to either not smoke or take the same chance he did.
Edited by FeedYourHead (10/01/06 08:51 PM)
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rawtoxic
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Re: High electric bill leads to marijuana bust [Re: FeedYourHead]
#6122568 - 10/01/06 11:05 PM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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People blowing it up like this DO have balls, I respect them for that.
And they do provide a essential public service. Hopefully their risk = reward they want.
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