Must read- Cops Make Major Hibiscus Bust

Status
Not open for further replies.

Ex-Doc

Member
Joined
Jun 15, 2003
Messages
170
Texas cops thought they'd made a major drug bust when they raided a home northwest of Houston last Tuesday. After all, it looked like there were huge marijuana plants growing in the front yard.

"All of a sudden, they burst in with their guns loaded, pointing at me, screaming, 'Get on the floor! Get on the floor!'" northwest Harris County resident Blair Davis told KHOU-TV.

It turns out the tall plants with the narrow leaves arranged in a fan pattern weren't pot plants at all, but specimens of Texas Star hibiscus (search), which Davis grows for his landscaping business.

That didn't convince the 10 or so members of the Harris County Organized Crime Unit (search) who stormed around the house.

"I just put my head down, shook it and said: 'Guys, you are making a terrible mistake. That is Texas Star hibiscus, not marijuana,'" Davis told the TV station. "They just told me to shut up."

At one point, the officers discussed whether the bamboo in the window might be the demon weed as well, Davis told the Houston Chronicle. They also asked him what he planned to do with the watermelons and cantaloupes growing out back.

"What would I do with them?" Davis said he responded.

It turned out a concerned citizen (old bag with nothing to do but bitch) had seen the native Texas plant, which has little white flowers and smooth green leaves — marijuana has rough leaves and dense flowering buds — in the yard and tipped off the authorities.

"My guys went out there, and they looked at the plants and stuff, and they believed them to be marijuana," Lt. Dan Webb told KHOU-TV.

After about an hour, the officers decided the search was over. They gave Davis a "citizen's information card" with the words "closed-report" written on it.

"No apology, no nothing," Davis complained to the Chronicle. "I realize they have a job to do, but this seems a little bizarre."

Lt. Webb defends his officers.

"I'm sure it was traumatic," he told KHOU. "Any time there's a search warrant served at your house, there's gonna be some trauma involved."

Davis thinks the narcotics officers might need a little more training.

"If they don't know what a marijuana plant looks like, maybe they should bring a picture with them," he told the TV station, "before they invade a citizen's home."

Unbelievable! Story could have been.... Homeowner Killed Over Hibiscus!

Statements that make me shudder:

'Guys, you are making a terrible mistake. That is Texas Star hibiscus, not marijuana,'" Davis told the TV station. "They just told me to shut up."

At one point, the officers discussed whether the bamboo in the window might be the demon weed as well

They also asked him what he planned to do with the watermelons and cantaloupes growing out back. Most disturbing of all!! :confused:

Lt. Webb defends his officers. :banghead: :fire:

Any time there's a search warrant served at your house, there's gonna be some trauma involved Lt. Webb...serve one at my house and we'll see if "there's gonna be some trama involved"!
 
NOT COP BASHING

i know that we have been repeatedly told not to bash cops here but i have had that plant in my yard before and i got to tell you it only superficially resembles mary-jane, at least one of the officers should have recognized that fact. sorry boys in blue these guy's gave you all a black eye on this one.
 
Ignorant a_holes...

This war on drugs BS is insupportable, and the gov't is using it as an excuse to steal property and further erode our rights...

But if the narcs DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT MARIJUANA LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS BEING NARCS. Star Hibiscus? OK, maybe if you have very poor eyesight, but BAMBOO?!

What is he going to do with cantaloupes and watermelons?! Aaargh!!! (Ssssh, don't tell, that's where the CRACK is hidden, INSIDE the cantaloupes):cuss: :banghead: :cuss:

OK, here's my major point: How about double-checking BEFORE BUSTING SOMEONE'S DOOR DOWN?!
 
Last edited:
I don't expect the cops to be bontanists. People shouldn't be allowed to grow anything that could be mistaken for marijuana, all it's going to do is use up valuable police resources. Taking this a step further, it''d simplify things if all yards didn't have any vegetation - those little white rocks, asphalt or bark should suffice for most yard landscaping and wouldn't confuse the police.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top