Mounties Blow Pot Bust With Warrant Screw-Up

Made arrests and destroyed a grow operation before securing court authorization

Botched search warrant procedures by Penticton RCMP has led to a not guilty verdict in what a judge called a "sophisticated" marijuana grow operation.

Judge Brad Chapman said the rights of Anthony and Jacqueline Prowse were not respected when RCMP arrested the couple and searched their Naramata property on Rounds Road on July 30, 2009. The couple were facing two charges of possession for the purpose of trafficking and one count of production of a controlled substance.