False alarm leads Conyers police to pot

By Alice Queen (993)
alice.queen@rockdalecitizen.com

As of Saturday, October 13, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Rockdale Citizen

CONYERS -- A residential alarm that was accidentally set off led officers with the Conyers Police Department to a marijuana grow operation.

An officer was called to the Almand Creek apartments on Oct. 8 where some maintenance workers had triggered the alarm. When the officer approached the apartment where the men were working he smelled a strong odor of raw marijuana.

The officer called for K-9 officer Brody to be brought to the apartment complex off Parker Road to help determine the source of the odor. The dog didn't alert to the smell of marijuana, but the apartment leasing agent indicated that the odor was probably coming from apartment 901, which was downstairs from the apartment where the alarm had been activated.

Officers spoke with Sean Thomas Fisher, 37, the resident in Apt. 901 outside the unit and asked if they could search his apartment. Fisher refused, and officers told Fisher that they would get a search warrant for the apartment and that he would have to remain outside until they got the warrant.

Fisher reportedly told officers that they might see some things inside his apartment that belonged to a "roommate" who didn't actually live there but who stored his DJ equipment there.

Once officers obtained a search warrant, Fisher unlocked the door and let them in. Inside, in a room off the living room, officers found three large metal cabinets that contained growing marijuana plants and equipment used to help them grow.

Fisher was arrested and charged with purchase/possession/manufacture/distribution or sale of marijuana. He remained in the Rockdale County Jail Friday.

More like this story

Covington Police make marijuana arrests at apartment complex ( December 22, 2011 )
Two arrested in separate pot grow operations ( February 8, 2012 )
Man charged with pot possession ( May 14, 2012 )
Man charged with assaulting his wife ( April 3, 2013 )
Conyers man arrested on pot trafficking charge ( April 9, 2012 )

lakeridge 7 months, 2 weeks ago

The human officer and leasing agent outsmelled Brody the drug dog?

82011 7 months, 2 weeks ago

I am sorry, but this is an example of probable cause carried TOO far. If I am on the jury on the basis of this reporter's report I would acquit this person. I am not a pothead but am glad I don't live inside Conyers City limits and pay taxes for this type of police activity.

Meanwhile, are we sure the alarm was false? How do we know? Are we sure an attempted burglary didn't just occur and a marijuana smell distraction caused this real crime to go undetected?

Frustrated 7 months, 1 week ago

and just how was probable cause carried too far? The officer AND the leasing agent smelled it. A search warrant was obtained and the apartment was searched. Look up the definition of probable cause and then tell me how it went too far.

MeanGreenie 7 months, 1 week ago

who cares about a small pot grower when we have way more important crime issues to deal with in Conyers and Rockdale County? Like, I feel so much safer now - NOT! I'm getting more in favor of NORML and I dont even smoke it.

Elmo 7 months, 1 week ago

The police are paid - by the taxpayers - to enforce the law, when and where ever they find it being violated. The police do not have the authority to decide which crimes are worth enforcing, and which are not.

If they let one pot grower pass, then they've got to let them all pass.

Police don't have the authority To hang out at the donut shop waiting for "more serious crimes" to occur.

Pot "freedom" may be "NORML" to you, but not to everyone. So long as the laws are on the books, it is still a crime.

Wanting it to attain normality status on contributes to the creeping incrementalism that is chipping away at our freedom. After pot, it will be crack, or worse, crying out to be the "new normal".

Redefining normality is like being a "little bit pregnant", either you are, or you're not.

In any case, the police don't define "normal", their job is to enforce the written laws, passed by the representatives of the people.

Maybe you don't "smoke it", but arguing for it to be normal is just as bad, if not worse.

wavace 7 months, 1 week ago

Elmo I wish I could meet you in person and pat you on the back for some of your comments. Some of the other posters here, who are obviously poorly informed and flat out ignorant, just make me shake my head sometimes. I would vote for you if you ever run for office.

johnq123 7 months, 1 week ago

Lakeridge, do not be so hard on the dog, maybe the canine had a bad sinus day..

Elmo 7 months, 1 week ago

John, don't you know that we're in the era of "blame someone (or something) else" for all the problems?

Rockdale Citizen