The Valley Courier publishes a Police Incident Report to inform residents of incidents, criminal activities, and police responses occurring in the towns of Essex, Deep River, and Chester. As those charged are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the report does not include names. It may be edited for space and content.

Friday, July 23

• No arrests were made.

• A 34 year-old man of 173 Main Street was arrested at 12:15 p.m. and charged with possession of less than four ounces of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and cultivation of marijuana for any purpose following an investigation by Trooper Christopher Reid and Sergeant Robert Derry. According to Derry, Troop F received an anonymous tip through the State Police Tip Line of a marijuana growing operation at 173 Main Street in the Ivoryton section of Essex. Derry and Reid attempted to speak with the homeowner, who was not home at the time, “and when we walked up the drive way we could see that marijuana plants were being grown in the back yard,” Derry said. “We got hold of the owner to explain why we were there and we obtained a search warrant to search the house and to seize the plants and other evidence inside the house.” Detectives from the Statewide Narcotic Task Force assisted with the investigation. Three large marijuana plants, four mason cars filled with dried marijuana leaves, and several pieces of drug paraphernalia were seized, according to Derry. Sgt. Derry praises the astute citizen(s) who made the anonymous call to Troop F and Derry assures that tips made to the tip line are indeed kept strictly confidential. Such tips are also greatly assists police if fighting crime of every kind, from burglaries and larcenies to drug operations, Derry noted. The accused was released after posting a $2,500 cash bond and issued an unspecified court date in Middletown Superior Court. 

Police correspondent Jason J. Marchi compiles the Police Incident Report.