Commerce marijuana raid yields over 900 plants, arrest after tip from utility worker

COMMERCE TOWNSHiP, Mich., (WXYZ) - A huge marijuana bust in Commerce Township has landed one man in jail.

Thanks to an observant Consumers Energy employee, the Oakland County Sheriff's department executed a search warrant that resulted in the raid.

The utility worker went to the home in the 8200 block of Tamarron Court to investigate a possible natural gas theft.

When he got there, he looked in the window and saw hundreds of marijuana plants. That's when he decided to call the sheriff's office.

Deputies raided the home and found the suspect 39-year-old Lionell Deshawn Hicks in the home.

Once inside deputies found approximately 950 marijuana plants and a .45 caliber handgun. Scales, packaging material, proof of residency and approximately $800 in U.S. currency were also found.

Deputies arrested 39 year old Hicks who was arraigned and charged with two felonies; one coutn of Delivery and Manufacture over 45 kilograms of marijuana and one count of of Delivery and Manufacture 5-45 kilograms of marijuana.

Together the charges could send Hicks to jail for more than 20 years.

Hicks has a history of  state and federal convictions involving marijuana. He remains in custody at the Oakland County jail. His bond has been set at $100,000 cash with no 10% allowed.