More pot found in Hilltowns

KNOX — The Albany County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an indoor marijuana grow operation in the Hilltowns, the second one discovered in as many weeks.

Acting Sheriff Craig Apple said the office received an anonymous tip about a building at the corner of routes 85 and 11, and the smell of fresh marijuana emanating from the house was so strong, the office immediately requested a search warrant.

The abandoned building is a residence broken into apartments, and two or three rooms are being used as “grow rooms” according to Apple. The house contains over 100 plants, which amount to well over 10 pounds of marijuana, making the crime a felony, he said.

The operation poses a fire hazard because of the strong lighting system used to grow the plants, said Apple.

The department has a suspect, but no one in custody at this time.

A marijuana grow operation discovered last week in a house on 161 Beaver Dam Road, near the New Scotland-Berne town line, has three suspects — John D. Haak Jr., 32, Jason T. Ball, 34, and Jesse O. Galvin, 28. Apple said the two grow operations are not linked. (For the full story, go online to altamontenterprise.com, under archives for Dec. 1, 2011.)

The three men, thought to have lived at 217 Beaver Dam Road, are not in custody, but Apple said several sheriffs would be taking a road trip Wednesday to another municipality where the men are thought to be in hiding.

“It’s only a matter of time before someone turns them in,” said Apple. “They have nowhere to go; we have their money, and their house.”

Apple said he could not name the suspect in the most recent grow operation case in Knox, but said he expects to have the man in custody soon.