Police charge Kendall Park resident for growing marijuana plants in his garage.
By: Joseph Harvie
A 27-year-old Kendall Park resident was charged Friday with manufacturing a controlled dangerous substance and possession of more than 50 grams of a controlled dangerous substance, after police allegedly found 21, 6-foot tall marijuana plants growing in his garage.
Michael Palumbo, 27, of Eastern Drive was charged after police found the marijuana growing in a special room set up in his garage, police said.
Police went to the Eastern Drive residence after receiving a 911 call Friday at 4:50 p.m. The caller hung up before saying anything to dispatchers.
Patrol Officer Dennis Yuhasz knocked at the front door and no one answered. He then went to the back of the house and entered through an open, rear sliding-glass door, according to police.
As Officer Yuhasz entered the house, Patrol Officer Dan Olsson arrived and the two officers began to check the residence to see if anyone needed assistance, police said.
While looking through the house they found a room in the garage that had been turned into a marijuana-growing farm, with cut-out windows and fluorescent grow lamps, police said.
Police said that the water supply for the plants was from bottled spring water. They said they found more than 100 empty spring water bottles throughout the residence.
Police said Mr. Palumbo had been growing marijuana for two years. Mr. Palumbo is being held at the Middlesex County Adult Correction Center in lieu of $1,000 bail.