Crime & Safety

Marijuana Growing Operation Found Inside Licensed Child Care Center

Police said the Howard County home was actively being used as a child care center while a Savage man operated a marijuana growing and distribution operation inside.


Howard County Police charged a Savage man with running a marijuana growing and distribution operation inside a residence licensed and used as a child care center.

Police charged the homeowner, David Geoffrey Anderson, 31, of the 9000 block of Baltimore Street, with multiple marijuana offenses including manufacturing, distributing and growing the drug.

Police said they received an anonymous tip that Anderson was growing large amounts of marijuana inside the home and began surveillance. After detectives obtained a search warrant, they located a room in the house that contained a hydroponic marijuana grow operation including high-intesity lighting, pipes to transfer heat outside and scented material to mask odor.

Also, police said they found plastic baggies of marijuana and a loaded handgun and ammunition inside the home. Police also located several firearms in a shed outside.

The home was actively being used as a child care center, although police said they didn't know the age or number of children being cared for inside the home.

The Office of Child Care at the State Department of Education suspended the child care license at the home, according to police.

Anderson was released from the Howard County Detention Center on $35,000 bond.



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