LIVERMORE FALLS — A police officer doing a patrol of Pine Ridge Loop stopped to investigate a suspicious vehicle Monday and ended up arresting a suspect on a marijuana charge.

Officer Stephen Allen arrested Jason D. Straub, 25, of Massachusetts on charges of refusing to submit to arrest or detention and aggravated cultivation of marijuana, Lt. Thomas Gould said Tuesday. 

The charge was aggravated because Straub had previous drug-related charges in New Hampshire, Gould said.

Allen said he was patrolling the mobile home park area just after 2 a.m. Monday and observed a suspicious vehicle.

He stopped to investigate and found the owner in a residence, Gould said.

After speaking to the man, Allen learned there was a warrant for him on drug charges out of New Hampshire, he said. After a brief scuffle, the individual was handcuffed but refused to walk from the residence which he rents, Gould said. 

Allen called for backup and waited for Jay police Cpl. Jeffrey Fournier to arrive and while he waited, he observed materials that indicated there was an indoor growing operation on the property, Gould said.

Allen applied for and received a search warrant for the property and returned later in the day with Gould and Sgt. Joe Sage. The officers found that the rear room of the mobile home had been changed into a grow room and 26 mature plants were found, Gould said. 

Police seized the plants as well as grow lights, air conditioners and other related items, he said.

“It was an elaborate operation in that it was set up to run on its own,” Gould said. “Air exchangers and filters were installed to ensure that no one outside the home could hear or smell what was going on inside and it could be left unattended for extended periods.”

It is believed that Straub only rented the property for the growing operation, he said.

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