Nov 3, 2017 2 min read

California police filed drug charges this week against a borough couple after allegedly finding a suspected marijuana grow operation while serving an arrest warrant on one of them at their residence last month.

Warren “Duncan” Evans, 40, and Amanda M. Rossi, 35, both of 708 Park St., California, are charged with possession and possession with intent to manufacture, possession of paraphernalia and conspiracy.

Police and a Washington County Adult Probation officer went to serve an arrest warrant on Evans Oct. 17. He missed a preliminary hearing the previous day on drug charges before District Judge Joshua Kanalis. Evans was held for court in his absence, and Kanalis asked for a bench warrant.

When police entered the home, they learned Evans was not at the residence.

While officers were at the home, they did a protective sweep on the residence and said they discovered a marijuana-growing operation in the attic that included multiple plants and grow lamps.

Police obtained a search warrant for the house. They said marijuana plants were found in soil under grow lamps in the attic. Also found, according to police, were a large number of heroin stamp bags and paraphernalia in a drawer of a nightstand in a second-floor bedroom.

Police said they seized 24 suspected marijuana plants, 19 dead plants, plant nutrients, multiple grow lamps, a notebook and calendar with growing information, 45 used syringes, 22 sealed heroin stamp bags and about 658 opened stamp bags.

Police asked Kanalis to issue a warrant for the suspects’ arrest. Warren was subsequently taken into custody on a probation warrant and placed in Washington County jail.