Police seize nearly 200 pot plants after fire breaks out at Walpole home

WALPOLE, Mass. — Police seized nearly 200 illegal cannabis plants after a fire broke out at a house in Walpole early Tuesday morning.

Firefighters who responded to the fire at the single-family home alerted police of the plants that had been growing in the basement. Two of the residents got out of the house when the smoke detectors went off.

After detectives applied for a search warrant and found 195 plants inside. State law allows up to 6 marijuana plants per person and up to 12 per household.

Patrick Meleo, one of the residents, was arrested for possession with intent to distribute a class D substance. He was arraigned in Wrentham District Court Tuesday morning.

Meleo told police he had fallen on hard times and was selling pot to make ends meet.

Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael said that, while this growhouse wasn't on their radar, they still had to arrest and charge those responsible according to the law.

Chief Carmichael says its become a common theme across the state, where residents growing pot are susceptible to fires due to the amount of electrical cords, CO2, heat lamps, wiring, etc. that goes along with setting up a system like this. If it's not installed properly by a professional, it could pose serious danger to the home and those living in it.

The value of the cannabis found is still unknown.

The other resident was not charged in connection to the illicit plants.

Authorities say the cause of the fire is still under investigation, but preliminary investigation suggests it was caused by overloaded circuits.

Cox Media Group