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Police find pot growing operation

Saturday, May 15, 2010 12:00 AM | Printer friendly version | E-mail to a friend |

Padgett

Police found marijuana growing on Tony Padgett's property.

A Salisbury man faces multiple felony drug charges authorities say stem from an indoor marijuana-growing operation at his home.

Tony Phillip Padgett, 32, of 150 Valley Drive, is charged with possession with intent to manufacture, sell and distribute marijuana, manufacture of a controlled substance, maintaining a dwelling to keep, store, manufacture and sell a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Rowan County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant at Padgett's house Friday following an investigation, a department press release said.

During the search, members of the Sheriff's Office Special Investigations Unit found "a sophisticated growing operation" in an outbuilding on the property, the press release said. The growing operation used a hydroponic system, which involves growing the plants in a water-based solution.

That kind of operation increases levels of THC, the chemical compound that gives marijuana users a high, the press release said.

The system involved water pumps and grow lights in a ventilated room inside the small utility room.

Investigators also seized dried marijuana and unopened cases of glass smoking pipes from the building, along with $2,500 cash, a handgun, a shotgun and 2 rifles from the house.

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