Police officers, who went to a house to assist a Connecticut state marshal in serving an ex parte restraining order and to retrieve several registered weapons from a Beech Tree Lane man Friday, also found a drug factory, according to police.
Charles Sutton, 54, of 16 Beech Tree Lane, was charged with illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession with intent to sell, operation of a drug factory and possession of greater-than-half-an-ounce of marijuana.
Sutton was released on $5,000 bond for an Oct. 8 court date at 172 Golden Hill St. in Bridgeport.
When the officers went down to Sutton’s basement to retrieve his weapons, they noticed the distinct odor of marijuana and observed, in plain view, three clear glass mason jars with a green leafy substance inside, police said.
Then the officers obtained a search warrant for the residence, which resulted in the discovery of an operational marijuana grow.
In addition to the growing materials, police found multiple bags of marijuana that were prepackaged for consumer sale in Massachusetts, including 15 tins containing 3.5 to seven grams each.
Items seized under the warrant included bags of potting soil, grow tents, ventilation equipment, a heating box with seeding starter trays, a calendar with entries pertaining to the operation, a temperature gauge and five plants, according to the report.
Harvested marijuana was separated into three jars with a total weight of approximately 96 grams or 3.38 ounces, police said.
DUI, weapons violation
An Easton man was charged with DUI after a traffic stop on Monroe Turnpike early Sunday morning.
A police officer observed a Jeep Grand Cherokee cross over the center line as the driver headed south on Monroe Turnpike around 2:06 a.m., according to the report.
The driver was stopped near the intersection with Fan Hill Road and police said he admitted to having a firearm in the vehicle. Field sobriety tests determined he was under the influence, police said, adding the weapon was found in the Jeep.
The 30-year-old Easton man was charged with operating under the influence and carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol. He was released on $500 bond for an Oct. 8 court date.
Tree branch crashes through windshield
A woman was heading west on Hammertown Road late Thursday morning, when a tree branch fell and smashed her windshield.
Police said the branch was stuck in the windshield when officers arrived on scene.
The driver, who cut a finger on her right hand, was treated by Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel at the scene, then taken to a hospital for further evaluation, police said.
The accident occurred around 11:53 a.m.
