Priest Busted For Growing Reefer In The Rectory....

[taoist]

Police arrest priest in Norton drug raid
Pastor charged with cultivating marijuana at rectory. Second man accused of trafficking; 35 plants seized
By Gina Mace and Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal writers

The three books confiscated by Norton police seemed out of place in the private office of a Catholic priest.

Opium for the Masses. Marijuana Growers Guide. Marijuana Medicine.

But police said what was going on in the Prince of Peace Catholic Church rectory had little to do with church business.

Following a search of the residence and office of the Rev. Richard A. Arko, Norton police announced Thursday they had arrested the 40-year-old pastor on a charge of illegal cultivation of marijuana.

A second man, Jensen J. Powell, 24, who is unemployed and living at the four-bedroom Shannon Avenue rectory, was charged with trafficking in marijuana.

Both are fifth-degree felonies carrying prison sentences of six months to a year.

Police confiscated not only the books but also 35 marijuana plants ranging from 6 inches to 4 feet, grow lights, electric transformers and air purifiers, all from a room that police said was being used to grow marijuana.

According to police, the plants were growing in a second-floor bedroom of the rectory.

Police took two baggies of marijuana and $1,100 in cash from Powell. They allege that Powell was selling marijuana from the residence.

Both men appeared Thursday before Barberton Municipal Judge Michael McNulty.

McNulty released Arko on a signature bond and set a $10,000 cash bond for Powell. The men are due back in court Wednesday.

The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland placed Arko on immediate ``leave of absence from priestly ministry,'' according to a press release from the diocese.

Attorney Peter Cahoon, who represents the priest, told Judge McNulty that in the meantime Arko will be living at a home he owns on West Tuscarawas Avenue in Barberton.

Prince of Peace parish is situated on the Norton-Barberton border, with the church and rectory in Norton at 1263 Shannon Ave., and the parish hall and parking lot in Barberton.

Norton Lt. Thad Hete was reluctant to discuss details of the investigation, such as how he came to suspect Arko of growing marijuana for sale in the rectory.

But he said investigators -- including Barberton police and the Summit County Drug Unit -- were able to connect the plants to Arko.

``We heard whisperings for some time,'' Hete said. ``This wasn't a fishing expedition. What we found in there is what we expected to find.''

The arrest, however, came as a surprise to parishioners at Prince of Peace, who describe Arko as a deeply spiritual man.

``I can't believe he would do anything that God wouldn't want him to do,'' said Anne Goch. ``I can't believe he would do anything to break the law or to hurt anybody.''

Goch was a member of St. Mary Church in Barberton for more than 70 years.

Arko, who was ordained in 1990, came to St. Mary's in 1994 to serve as administrator.

In 2001, he was assigned as administrator of Sacred Heart in Barberton and served both parishes until they merged July 1, 2002. After the parishes merged, the name was changed to Prince of Peace and Arko became pastor in March 2003.

Betty Spetich converted to Catholicism and joined Sacred Heart about two years ago. She said Arko, who guided her through her religious instruction, was instrumental in her conversion.

``When I first heard Father Arko, I just thought he's a priest I would like to get to know and I would like to join the church under his leadership,'' Spetich said. ``I love Father Arko and we have great faith in him and we'll stand behind him all the way.''

Spetich said the parish has enjoyed steady growth under Arko's leadership because he is able to relate to people of all ages.

``He's such a good friend to everyone. He lives out his religion,'' Spetich said. ``He would help anyone in need and everyone loves him -- from the young children to the senior citizens.''

Arko, who is also a yogi, has brought new parishioners to the church through Sacred Ground Yoga.

Becki Haller, who attended some of Arko's yoga classes and worked with him on a program for mentally and physically challenged people, attended Arko's arraignment. She described Arko as a dear friend she has known for five or six years.

``He's a friend unconditionally and I want him to know I'll be there,'' Haller said. ``I'll pray things go well for him and he can continue to use all of his gifts and talents to help people.''



:weed:

 

[DR STRANGELOVE]

you think that is huge, wait till i find the link of canada's largest reefer bust, not far from the cottage at a former beer brewery plant.

Projected annual networth: $100 million a year..

30,000 plants...

 

[DR STRANGELOVE]

http://thestar.ca/NASApp/cs/Content...geid=971358637177&c=Article&cid=1073908425037

 

[DR STRANGELOVE]

Nine men have been charged and police have seized more than 30,000 marijuana plants worth about $30 million in two massive grow operations in Barrie.
Officers from the OPP drug enforcement section and the Barrie Police Service executed a search warrant early Saturday at a former Molson brewery site at One Big Bay Point Rd.





The site, located beside the busy lanes of Highway 400, was passed daily by hundreds of thousands of drivers.

A second search warrant was executed at 4921 Hwy 11 North, Oro-Medonte Township just north of Barrie. There officers seized approximately 3,000 more marijuana plants.

Both locations, which police believe are linked, were being run as factories that operated on a 24-hour-a-day basis.

Police continue to investigate a number of tenants who controlled both locations, but they do suspect the illegal enterprises were likely run by organized crime or gangs.

Inside the Barrie brewery, officers found areas that had been set aside for living accommodations for up to 50 individuals who would look after the marijuana plants and included common areas, beds, televisions, fridges and stoves similar to a dormitory-type facility, police say.

"We were in there for two days securing the location. It's about 60,000 square feet," said Bill Crate, superintendent of the OPP.

"There's living quarters in there. Everything from seed to packaged plants for distribution. I suspect we'll be in there for weeks gathering evidence and we'll be in there weeks more dismantling it. There is over a million dollars worth of equipment in there. There's miles and miles and miles of electrical wire and water hoses. It's quite incredible."

The investigation showed that more than a thousand hydroponics lights were being used to provide artificial light for the plants. This operation would be capable of producing up to three or four crops per year, generating hundreds of millions of dollars, police said.

"The Big Bay Point location is the largest and most sophisticated grow operation in Canada," said Deputy Commissioner Vaughn Collins of the OPP Investigation and Organized Crime Command. "Commercial marijuana factories have reached epidemic proportions in Ontario. They are in every community and most are controlled by organized crime."

The stunning bust has area residents asking how such a large drug operation could operate only metres away from a highway that millions of commuters use each year.

"There is a gatehouse, so there is controlled access and there are no windows," said Crate. "It was well vented so the smell wasn't there and they went to great lengths to make sure people wouldn't stumble upon it."

Chief Wayne Frechette of the Barrie police said he was "pleased that we were able to shut down and dismantle what was the largest indoor marijuana growing operation within Canada."

Charged are Michael DiCicco, 60, of Toronto, Robert Bleich, 29, of Stayner, Scott Walker, 34, of St. Catharines, Zoran Stojanovic, 49, of St. Catharines, Tomas Gates, 33, of Corunna, Ont., Craig Walker, 24, of Niagara Falls, Ont., Scott Dillon, 23, of Toronto, Rayne Sauve, 36, of St. Catharines and Edward MacAdam, 43, of Niagara Falls, Ont.

Police would not say if their raid was the result of a tip.

All charged persons are being held for a bail hearing in Barrie court scheduled for Tuesday.

Police said they anticipate laying more charges against other individuals in the cases.

 

[dukie]

Freedom of Religion:shrug: