Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current, December 15, 2010, Page 7, Image 7

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    December 15, 2010
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Page 7
Homes Converted for Marijuana Grows
Arrests break
up ‘for-profit’
network
The Portland Police Bureau's
Drugs and Vice Division con­
cluded an investigation into a
major drug trafficking organiza­
tion last week by serving search
warrants on 12 residences and a
business.
The investigation focused on a
large scale marijuana manufactur­
ing and distribution network.
Marijuana was being cultivated in
several houses specifically reno­
vated to accommodate large-scale
marijuana grows and many were
not occupied by any residents.
Police said the drug traffickers
were highly organized and the op­
eration was highly profitable with
no connection to medical mari­
juana.
Officers learned that in some of
the grow houses electricity was
being diverted directly from the
power poles into the houses to
run the network of transformers,
lights and filtration systems. The
power diversions presented a
danger to the neighborhood as a
substantial fire hazard.
Each year the Police Bureau
A Portland police photo shows a marijuana manufacture operation that was one o f several grow houses specifically renovated for
receives a number of complaints
large-scare marijuana grows, many o f which were not occupied by any residents.
about marijuana grow houses and
associated odor, foot and vehicle robberies to steal marijuana and 2,400 marijuana plants with an es- mated value of nearly $600,000; case are Kung Mo Chin, 29; Jin Yu
traffic and violence. The violence cash from growers, police said.
timated street value of nearly $2.5 and marijuana growing equipment Chen, 35; Wen Han Chen, 39; Shao
is of particular concern as thieves
Evidence seized in this case million; nearly 200 pounds of fin- valuing more than $200,000.
QuanOu,40;ZhongDongOu,42;
are committing home-invasion included over $74,000 in cash; over ished marijuana bud with an esti-
The six persons arrested in the and Herman Man Shun Chan, 50.
NaRNMWWMW
TriMet Sued for Fatal Crash
MMNMM
Danielle Sale’s boyfriend, 22-year-
old Robert Gittings, also filed suit,
on Tuesday
TriMet has been sued for $30 man injured in the same collision. Flynn filed separate lawsuits
Danielle Sale and Gittings had
million by parents of two women
Danielle Sale's father David Sale against TriM et last week in been holding hands as they
killed by a bus and by a young and Jenee Hammel's mother Vicki Multnomah County Circuit Court.
crossed a downtown street in a
Scam Warning for Ducks Fans
Authorities are warning Or­
egon Ducks fans to be especially
careful when buying tickets to the
national championship game be­
cause of scams.
Ticket prices are already climb­
ing toward $2,000 online and the
tickets haven’t even been distrib­
uted yet.
Craigslist has a warning posted
about a man from London who
claims to be selling tickets to the
game.
“A big red flag is when it turns
out the person you're dealing with
is oversees. That's almost always
going to be a scammer," explained
Tony Green, with the Oregon At­
torney General’s office.
Other important tips - never
agree to wire money to the seller.
Try to always pay with a credit
card because most credit card
companies will pay a person back
if they’re the victim of a scam.
Also, authorities warn that people
buying anything online should
never give out their personal in­
formation because they could get
ripped off.
marked crosswalk late on April 24.
TriMet bus driver Sandi Day made
what police say was an illegal left-
hand turn and struck five pedes­
trians.
Day has since been fired.
popn-Awe CLIMATE
A C TIO N NOW !
POCmtCR Vif CAM MART A M W fc fN C f
T M f ACTION r o w
Find in s p ira tio n and resources at:
www.portiandclimateaction.org
City o f P ortland Bureau o f
Planning and Sustainability
Sam Adam«. Mayor I Susan Anderson. Director