Narcotics squad busts marijuana grower at Oak City Antiques on U.S. 12 in Clinton

By CRISTINA TRAPANI-SCOTT

CLINTON — On Thursday, Feb. 17, officers from the OMNI III Narcotics Team seized 297 plants and 30 pounds of processed marijuana from Oak City Antiques in Clinton.

Barry Lee Fisher, 62, of Onsted was arrested and arraigned Tuesday on charges of manufacturing marijuana, maintaining a drug house and conspiracy.

According to Michigan State Police Lt. Steve Galbreath, the unit received tips that illegal marijuana manufacturing was taking place in the facility, but seizure could not take place until the unit could establish probable cause. Galbreath said that Thursday, the department had probable cause.

He said that while Fisher has been arrested, the investigation continues, with a possible additional suspect involved. Both men had medical marijuana patient cards and one had a caregiver’s license. Galbreath said, however, that the caregiver’s legal growing operation was separate from what was housed in Clinton.

According to Michigan medical marijuana law, each could have legally been growing up to 72 plants if they were certified caregivers and had the maximum number of certified patients. That’s a total of 144 between them, well under the number of plants that were seized. “It’s obvious that they were using medical marijuana as an excuse to make money,” said Galbreath.

Previous reports note that Fisher was on probation for earlier charges of growing marijuana in Washtenaw County.

Fisher’s preliminary hearing will be March 7 in Lenawee County District Court.

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