Pot Farm Found in Same Building as Federal Office
03/11/10 - 06:41 PM
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Tenants of 573 Building One were told Suite 101 was a “nursery” and “agricultural supply business.” A police search revealed that their realtor, Sid Squirrel of Bray Commercial Realty, wasn’t telling the entire truth.

The Western Colorado Drug Task Force found more than a thousand marijuana plants and a tub full of hash in the suite, according to a search affidavit. When police asked Squirrel, who is currently in Mexico, for an explanation over the phone, Squirrel contended they were all legally grown medical marijuana plants. Squirrel said the proof is in the patient records also found by police during the search.

Police were first called to the scene when Census Bureau employees in the same office building reported a strong chemical odor emitting from the ventilation system. As a result, the Census Office Bureau closed for several hours for health concerns.

Tenants in the building, who did not want to be identified, said they grew increasingly suspicious of Suite 101 in the two weeks leading up to the search, saying the smells coming from the corner suite became “pungent” and “unbearable.” One tenant said you could “smell marijuana from a block away.”

According to the search warrant, Sid Squirrel is currently in Mexico with the owner of Naturals Wellness Center, the medical marijuana dispensary he says he’s supplying.

Two men associated with Naturals dispensary, who said they tended to Squirrel’s marijuana plants for free, were at Suite 101 at the time of the search and cooperated with task force members.

Local law enforcement agencies aren’t the only ones interested in the building.  Officers form the Department of Homeland Security were also at the building for a few hours on Thrusday.  The department is in charge of over 9,000 federal buildings and employees, said Matt Chandler, with the DHS.  The marijuana farm is under the same roof as the U.S. Census Bureau office.  We were there to ensure the safety and protection of our building and employees, said Chandler.    He also said DHS works with local law enforcement agencies.  No word on if the DEA plans on getting involved and making the marijuana growth a federal investigation.

The investigation is ongoing. No arrests or seizures have been made in the case. Bray Commercial Realty declined to comment and Squirrel could not be reached.

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