A house fire on Aurora’s West Side Saturday led Aurora police officers and firefighters to uncover a cannabis growing operation in the home, according to a news release from the Aurora Police Department.
At around 7:23 a.m. on Sept. 13, Aurora police officers and firefighters responded to a report of a structure fire on the 1800 block of Ashwood Lane in Aurora, according to the news release. Upon arrival, they observed small flames near the front entrance of the house and siding damage from the heat. The fire department quickly extinguished the fire before it spread through the home, officials said.
As they investigated the source of the fire, firefighters observed signs of a cannabis growing operation in the basement of the home and alerted the police officers, the release said. The officers ultimately confirmed a large number of cannabis plants, grow lights and altered electrical equipment inside the home, according to the release.
The two residents of the home — Ryan Prey, 32, of Aurora, the homeowner, and his roommate, 20 — were detained by Aurora police, the department said.
A search warrant was obtained later that day, and, per the department, investigators ultimately seized 330 cannabis plants, just under 52 pounds of cannabis, drug packaging materials and equipment and numerous cellphones, the release stated.
Prey has since been charged with manufacture/delivery of more than 5,000 grams of cannabis, producing or possessing more than 200 cannabis plants and possession of more than 5,000 grams of cannabis, all felonies, according to the release.
He is set to have a status hearing on Thursday, Sept. 18, according to Kane County court records.
Prey’s roommate was released without charges, the release said.
The investigation is ongoing, the release noted, and anyone with information is asked to call the Aurora Police Department’s Investigations Division at 630-256-5500.