Teen accused of growing marijuana on cop's land
OCALA, Fla. (AP) -- A 17-year-old boy was growing marijuana on vacant property owned by Ocala's deputy police chief, authorities said.
Deputy Chief Greg Graham said he was told about the plants by neighbors on Saturday. He had bought the lot two months ago as an investment, the Ocala Star-Banner reported.
Deputies with the Martin County Sheriff's Office confiscated nine potted marijuana plants on the lot.
Graham said he has known the teen, who was not identified because of his age, for several years.
"I have no idea why he picked my property," Graham said.
A neighbor witnessed the teen in the wooded lot on Friday, according to a sheriff's report. The lot was about 100 yards from the teen's home. The neighbor said the teen's presence on the lot seemed suspicious.
While the investigators were on the property, they spotted the teen walking toward it, according to the report. The teen admitted to investigators that the plants were his and that he smokes marijuana.
He also had pictures of the marijuana plants on his camera cell phone, according to the report.
The teen was charged with cultivation of marijuana and taken to the county's Juvenile Assessment Center.
(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
