Article from the News Leader in Staunton VA

Stuarts Draft grow shop raided, sheriff’s office says charges pending

Brad Zinn

Staunton News Leader

STUARTS DRAFT – A building that houses a grow shop in Stuarts Draft was recently raided by authorities who claim marijuana was being illegally sold there during “pop up” events, according to court records.

On Wednesday, the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing and that charges are likely once the investigation concludes.

On Sept. 26, a confidential informant reportedly made a handful of marijuana purchases on the second floor of the building that contains the business High Grow Hydro, located at 293 Draft Avenue, an affidavit to a search warrant said.

The informant told the sheriff’s office that pop-up events typically take place on Thursdays and Saturdays, and that attendees could purchase marijuana products from vendors after paying a $10 entrance fee. The affidavit said patrons accessed the second floor of the building through a side door that led to a stairwell.

The informant allegedly bought four bags of marijuana during the first visit.

Two weeks later on Oct. 10, the informant went back to another pop-up event, reportedly purchasing multiple baggies of marijuana and THC products. Seven vendors were there that day, and one of them had a holstered pistol, the affidavit said.

About 20 to 30 people attended each event.

Several days later on Oct. 17, a Thursday, the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Unit executed a search warrant at the business during another pop-up event.

“The search warrant resulted in several types of narcotics and multiple firearms being seized,” the sheriff’s office said. Marijuana and THC-infused products were confiscated, court records show, with one vendor reportedly having a “distribution quantity” of marijuana.

A person answering the phone at the business Wednesday declined to comment, but did state that no narcotics were found during the search.

On Wednesday, Lt. Leslie Snyder, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, said she could not comment about the ongoing investigation.

Although possessing up to an ounce of marijuana is legal in Virginia, along with growing a maximum of four plants, retail sales have yet to be legalized.