$850,000 worth of marijuana found in Kannapolis house

Published 12:00 am Thursday, August 4, 2011

KANNAPOLIS — Authorities have charged two men after finding $850,000 worth of marijuana in a house on Juniper Street.
During an investigation by the Kannapolis Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Unit, detectives determined that a home at 814 S. Juniper St. was being used to house a marijuana growing operation, a press release said.
When police went there, they encountered Orlando Rojas Jr. and Brian Edward Potts, who both live at the house. The men told police they couldn’t come inside “and attempted to destroy the evidence,” the press release said. But detectives forces their way inside and found a large hydroponic growing operation which contained about 140 pounds of marijuana.
Wednesday afternoon, detectives were still processing evidence and weighing more drugs found at the home, the press release said.
Rojas and Potts were each charged with two counts of trafficking in marijuana, manufacturing marijuana and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, all felonies, and possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor.
Both men were in the Cabarrus County jail Wednesday evening under $500,000 bond apiece.
Police said another person with ties to the Juniper Street house will also be charged.