SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS - West Mahanoy Township police investigating a quality of life ordinance issue Thursday afternoon uncovered what they term a "substantial" marijuana growing operation with more than $50,000 in illegal plants.
Police Chief Shawn Tray said the operation at 16 Cemetery Road included 31 marijuana plants as well as numerous pieces of equipment used to facilitate the growing of the illegal drug.
Two men found inside the home, Luis Reyes, Bronx, New York, and Tavarez Pablo, Dominican Republic, were scheduled to be arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, on drug charges including felony manufacture of a controlled substance and misdemeanor offenses of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Tray said the listed owner of the property, Reynald Roldan, Dominican Republic, is also facing charges and is considered a fugitive.
Tray said about 1 p.m., police stopped at the home after discovering high weeds around the building and an abandoned vehicle on the property.
While speaking with Reyes and Tavarez, Tray said an illegal drug operation was suspected and resulted in a search warrant being obtained from Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.
Entering the home, Tray said police from West Mahanoy Township, Shenandoah and the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force found the growing operation in numerous rooms that included lighting, air circulation devices, cooling fans and more.
There were also rooms for people inside the home to stay.
"There were multiple rooms for the growing operation along with 'crash rooms' for the people attending to the plants," Tray said.
Tray said the way electricity was wired to support the elaborate operation posed a substantial fire hazard.
Authorities worked into the nighttime hours to collect the plants and other evidence and to dismantle the growing operation and hazardous wiring.