Biggest drug raid in Seat Pleasant History! Good Job guys!

Contact: Vinnie Mascarenhas
Tel. 443-942-3234
January 9, 2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Seat Pleasant Police Department Makes a Major Bust Dismantling a Marijuana Grow Operation

Seat Pleasant, MD – Today Mayor Eugene W. Grant has issued a statement concerning a 51 year old male who had been arrested for stealing electricity from residents of the City of Seat Pleasant which resulted in Police finding a Marijuana Grow House. On early Saturday morning January 7, 2012 Seat Pleasant Police Officers responded to a call at 600 63rd Place, Seat Pleasant, MD in reference to a male stealing electricity from his neighbor’s house. Seat Pleasant Police officers arrested the male after he was positively identified as the male who stole the electricity. While officers were attempting to re-secure the address they were alerted to the strong smell of Marijuana coming from the house.

“Seat Pleasant has a zero tolerance policy against those who not only steal from their fellow neighbors but promote and sell dangerous and illegal substances in our neighborhoods. We will not condone or tolerate illegal activities or drugs in our neighborhoods. I am proud of the Seat Pleasant Police Department and Sergeant Herb Pettiford for his leadership on this issue. Today, Seat Pleasant is a safer place for our children and we will continue to look for and fight crime wherever it occurs within our great City of Excellence” stated Mayor Eugene W. Grant.

Seat Pleasant Police K-9 “Sadie” and her handler PFC Perez responded to the house and alerted officers to signs of a Controlled Dangerous Substance. Seat Pleasant Police Officers along with Prince George’s County Police Detective obtained a drug Search Warrant. Officers entered the home and found it to be a Marijuana Grow House. Officers recovered numerous large and small marijuana plants valued at approximately $40,000.00, U.S. currency, however the actual street value of the drugs is unknown at this time but estimated to be much higher than the recovered plants value. Additionally, police recovered two halogen high intensity lights and one twelve gauge shot gun.

Seat Pleasant Police Officer Sergeant Herb Pettiford stated “if it had not been for the police K-9 and her handler PFC Perez, along PFC Whitaker, and P/O Lowery and there proactive police patrolling skills this seizure would not have happened.” Chief Sam Prue and Mayor Eugene W. Grant were very instrumental in creating the Police K-9 program for the Seat Pleasant Police Department.

Mayor Eugene W. Grant wishes to thank and acknowledge the City Council for granting his request to add a K-9 unit as part of Seat Peasants’ arsenal to fight the war on drugs.

Seat Pleasant: “A City of Excellence” is one of Maryland’s 157 municipalities with a population of 5,000 residents, 100 businesses, 13 houses of faith, and 20 non-profit organizations. The Seat Pleasant government has a mayor, seven member city council and 35 government employees operating a $3.2 million dollar budget.
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Vinicia M. Mascarenhas
Special Assistant to the Mayor
City of Seat Pleasant
6301 Addison Rd.
Seat Pleasant, MD 20743
301.336.2600o 301.336.0029f
443.942.3234c