Police briefs: Lots of green in Red Lake

Kamloops Rural Mounties have busted another large grow-op, this time in the Red Lake area.

Police seized more than 1,500 mature pot plants from a rural property on Tranquille Criss Creek Road near Red Lake on Tuesday, July 27.

Police won’t say what tipped them off to the indoor grow-op, but they note the same property, roughly 40 acres in size, was busted in 2008 for a similar-sized operation.

Since that raid, ownership of the property has changed hands.

Const. Cheryl Bush described the grow-op as having a greenhouse-style set up, with a limited amount of equipment.

The pot is estimated to be worth more than $1 million.

A 45-year-old man, who is known to police, was arrested and later released for a court date in October.

He is facing charges of production of a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

Police said he is not the owner of the property.

A Yamaha Rhino ATV was also seized in the raid.

In the last six months, Kamloops RCMP have busted a number of large grow-ops in the area, including two in the Heffley Creek in March that netted nearly 4,000 plants.

• Using a cab not wisest getaway move

It didn’t take long for Mounties to slap the cuffs on a robber after he used a cab as a getaway car.

Police said a man walked into the Paramount Theatre on Victoria Street just before 10 p.m. on Tuesday, July 27, demanding money from staff.

Though he didn’t show a weapon, he threatened to use one if he wasn’t given the cash.

Theatre employees obliged and the suspect fled into a waiting cab.

He was quickly arrested after Mounties caught up with the taxi in the 300-block of Tranquille Road.

No one was injured in the robbery or during the takedown.

The man, whose name was not released, is known to police and was on parole.

He faces a charge of robbery, while his parole status has been revoked.