Kenneth Hart
The Independent
RUSSELL —
A parking complaint led to the discovery of a sizable indoor marijuana-growing operation by Russell police on Tuesday.
According to a news release from the department, officers received a report of a vehicle parked illegally on Etna Street. During the course of attempting to locate the owner, a resident told the officers he’d noticed a strong marijuana odor emanating from an apartment on Etna.
Police knocked on the door of the apartment, occupied by 34-year-old James D. Kitchen. When Kitchen opened the door, officers smelled marijuana inside the residence.
Kitchen gave the officers permission to search the apartment. Inside, police said, pot plants and drug paraphernalia were visible “everywhere.”
In another room, police located what they said was a “complex marijuana growing setup,” featuring numerous grow lights and irrigation, blower and feeding systems.
Police seized more than 50 mature marijuana plants, $1,600 cash, a large quantity of drug paraphernalia and morphine sulfate pills.
Kitchen was lodged in the Greenup County Detention Center, charged with cultivating and trafficking in marijuana, first-degree drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of prescription drugs not in a proper container.
KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.
