Man calls 911 with pot inquiry

Updated: Friday, 04 Feb 2011, 5:50 PM EST
Published : Friday, 04 Feb 2011, 10:27 AM EST

* By: Rebecca Santillo

Farmington, Conn. (WTNH) - A Farmington man is under arrest after he called 911 and asked the dispatcher how much trouble he could get into for growing marijuana.

Police say Robert J. Michelson called 911 Thursday evening around 8pm.

Dispatcher: 911, what's your emergency?

Michelson: Uh, let's not get into that yet.

Dispatcher: If it's not an emergency you don't call 911 sir.

Michelson: Well, I have a legal question.

Dispatcher: Is it life threatening or an active crime in progress?

Michelson: Crime in progress possibly.

Dispatcher: What's going on?

Michelson: I was just growing some marijuana and I was just wondering what, how much trouble you can get in for one plant.

Dispatcher: You're growing marijuana and you want to know...depends on how big the plant is?

Michelson: It's only a seedling.

Dispatcher: Well, it's possession. You can get pinched for a roach in the car.

Michelson: All right, thanks for the info.



Police were able to track the call to Michelson's Waterville Road home where they found a small amount of marijuana and numerous items used to grow and smoke pot. Michelson admitted to cops that he spent a lot of money online purchasing the cultivation products.

Charges include illegal cultivation, possession and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released on bond, but not before giving the police dispatchers two middle fingers, presumably for doing such a good job.

Qualifies for a Darwin Award. The police aren't much better. How many hours and resources were devoted to tracking down one stinking plant?