A man accused of running a high-tech marijuana growing operation in his Middletown apartment told police that he was growing it to save money rather than buy it from other people, according to a report from police.
Middletown police charged Dennis Dwight Manning Jr., 32, after stopping a burglary in progress just after 10:30 a.m. on June 26 at Manning’s Saybrook Road home.
After chasing the burglar, police went back to the house to ensure no other burglars were inside and stumbled upon an elaborate and high-tech growing operation.
The windows of Manning’s bathroom were covered in thick black plastic to control the light and heat for the two 3-foot-tall plants in the bathroom closet, police said. Specialty lighting and a thermometer were set up in the closet and three fans were blowing on the plants. In addition to the blooming plants, police 1.76 pounds of dried marijuana leaves and stalks and a calendar in the bathroom that gave instructions on growing marijuana.
In another closet, police said they found 81 grams of marijuana hanging on a rack and drying with a fan set up to speed up the process.
In Manning’s bedroom, police found a small refrigerator holding marijuana seeds and more seeds in his desk, police said.
Police said they also found a digital scale, 15 mason jars holding marijuana and a paper bag containing another 16.6 grams of marijuana stalks and leaves.
Local
Manning had a pipe for smoking marijuana in his pants pocket and it contained another 3 grams of marijuana, police said.
Manning told police that the marijuana growing operation was his alone.
He regularly smokes marijuana and decided to start growing his own marijuana as a way to save money so he did not have to buy it from other people, according to the police report.
He said he bought the equipment online, cultivated his first crop in April and was working on his second crop, police said.
Police said Manning told police he never sold the marijuana he grew, instead it was meant intended for his personal use as well as his roommate’s.
Another person who lives in the residence told police he sometimes smokes marijuana, but had no knowledge of the growing operation and wanted it removed room the house, according to the arraignment report.
Manning was charged with several drug offenses, including possession with intent to sell and operating a drug factory. He was also charged as a non-student possessing drug paraphernalia near a school, because he lives Bielefield Elementary School.
