Narcotics detective Michael Papamichael kept seeing the same black Ford F-150 pickup truck parked behind Simply Hydroponics, a business that sells grow lights, nutrients and other products designed for indoor agriculture.
Excuse me for interrupting, but if you’re Mr. & Mrs. Papamichael, what on earth makes you name your child “Michael”? Sorry, I know, a guy called “Radical” Russ Belville has no room to talk… but at least my folks had the decency not to name me “Mel L. Belville”.
Papamichael saw the truck five times between Jan. 6 and Feb. 19, according to court documents released last week, and that got the detective thinking. He checked to see who that truck belonged to, and where the driver might have set up an account with Progress Energy Corp. for electricity.
This is how the Pinellas sheriff’s narcotics squad was led to a string of warehouses behind a U.S. 19 strip plaza this month. There they found 460 marijuana plants and more than $12,000 in cash, the court documents say.
Allan Bednar, co-owner of Simply Hydroponics, was taken aback when he heard Tuesday that detectives identified a suspect by jotting down the license tag of a truck presumably driven by one of his customers.
“If they don’t have anything better to do, there’s not much I can do about it,” Bednar said. “I’m surprised … it seems there are more problems around of a more serious nature.”
Bednar wondered aloud whether the sheriff’s office was exposing itself to potential lawsuits though the surveillance technique. “We’re a gardening supply store,” Bednar said. It caters to professors, students and teachers, as well as homeowners, and if detectives begin showing up at their doors, it could be considered harassment, he said.
via Truck At Hydroponics Store Traced; Pot Raided – News- msnbc.com.
Now you can’t even park near a hydroponics store! This is literally outrageous. Detective Papamichael, could you at least apply some of that bloodhound skill of yours toward eradicating a meth lab? I know you’re a narcotics detective and therefore not directed to solve real crimes against persons or property, but you could find a better use for your time than spying on legal businesses and innocent customers who enjoy indoor gardening.
(Note to self: next trip to hydro store, take a cab, wear a disguise, and pay cash.)
The owner is 100% cooperating with law enforcement. As a user, himself this is appalling! Glad to hear about his new larger store. Perhaps he should cooperate with the IRS about all his cash sales? Smile, your on law enforcement TV when you pull into the parking lot.
I think Simply is in on the whole deal.
I went to the same place to get some supplies for my pineapples. The dicks followed me and eventually came to my house banging on the door, telling me I was eing investigated for growing herb. The pricks said they smelled herb (lie) and used this for a reason to come in my house. To there suprise they found my 5 pineapple plants growing on the porch out back. As fast as they came in, they left. Am I entitled to a report?
they came to my house and knocked too. boycott simply hydro.
I was arrested yesterday for growing. I’m one of those who bought from Simply Hydroponics. Took my tag , checked my elect. bill etc… and then began building up probable cause. It’s a real shame. We have budget cutbacks and they’re still using their resources for this nonsense while any number of wanted felons are out on the loose. Some priorites!
I don’t understand how this makes any sense or how this could make sense to any of them. The logic that someone is there a lot so it must mean that they are growing weed is crazy.. Are they investigating the store owner? I mean HE is there every day.. It’s ludicrous!
wait, Detective Papamichael was paid to do this??? ..that’s a complete waste of taxpayers money!!
I for one don’t pay my taxes so police officers can spy on garden stores. Fire Detective Papamichael and fire his boss!!!