Crime & Safety

Man Arrested in West Ashley Pot Growing Operation

Charleston Police arrested a Folly Beach man accused of running a marijuana growing operation out of a West Ashley commercial property he was allegedly leasing.

Charleston Police on Thursday charged Christopher Paul Durand, 42, of 1403 East Ashley Avenue, Apartment A, Folly Beach, with trafficking marijuana and possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, according to a Police statement.

The Department issued an arrest warrant for Durand after an officer performing a property check on the building Durand was allegedly renting, smelled what he thought was marijuana coming from the building at 2313 Ashley River Road, according to a Police report. After obtaining a search warrant and entering the building, officers recovered 112 marijuana plants and about 234 grams of loose marijuana.

Police obtained documentation showing Durand leased the property and paid the utility bills on it, according to the Department statement.

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Durand is being held at the Al Cannon Detention Center in North Charleston.

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