Police find pot plants, unlocked loaded gun at Michigan daycare

The Morning Sun: Serving Clare, Gratiot and Isabella counties
A police flyover in Gratiot County netted seven marijuana plants growing in the back yard of a children’s day care center in Arcada Township.

That in turn, led police to a loaded gun found in an unlocked box in the home.

A 25-year-old Arcada Township man has been arrested and is expected to be arraigned today, Gratiot County Prosecutor Keith Kushion said.

Kushion said the Michigan State Police Aviation team, along with members of the Mid-Michigan Area Group Narcotics Enforcement Team spotted the plants during an “Operation Hemp” flyover in August.

The plants were confiscated and a warrant was obtained to search the house, Kushion said. Once there, police found an additional 3.4 grams of marijuana seeds along with a loaded gun.

Kushion said the gun, with one bullet in the chamber, was found in an unlocked box, along with loose ammunition in a bedroom closet.

The arrested man had been living in the home of his mother, who runs a day care center, Kushion said. There are no charges against his mother.

“She said she had no knowledge of the items in the back yard,” Kushion said.

The man is expected to be arraigned on one count of manufacturing marijuana, which is a four year felony.

Kushion also said MAGNET officers have notified the daycare licensing authorities of the activities in the home.

Wow, I’m torn on this one.  The wasted efforts and money of the Michigan Police, flying a helicopter around searching for plants, turning up only seven, is a huge boondoggle.  Did you know a helicopter is the most expensive form of transportation to run per hour of flight time?  They also cause a lot of environmental damage and the asthethic damages of noise pollution.  Cruise ships and freight trains are more efficient than helicopters. 

On the other hand, a loaded gun with a bullet in the chamber in an unlocked box in a place where there are lots and lots of children?  Growing your stash in the back yard of a day care center?  Regardless of what I think about the insanity of cannabis prohibition, the fact is that prohibition creates violence, and this man’s actions subjected children to potential danger.

I do know this is the last kind of story you want in the media when you’re trying to pass a medical marijuana initiative statewide.