Police actions at or near two medical marijuana distribution centers in Flint were not raids
by Rick Thompson/August 7, 2017
FLINT- Police were in or near two medical marijuana distribution centers, or dispensaries, last week but there was not a ‘raid’ of the centers, according to industry insiders and mainstream media sources.
The first occurred on August 2 at Genesee Harvest, a very new center in a rough part of north Flint near the Beecher district. NBC 25 News reported the story with the title, ‘FANG Raids Flint Dispensary’, but the raid team was there to arrest one man with an outstanding warrant, according to insiders, and while there they seized all the cannabis on sale and being cultivated at the site. Although unconfirmed, word is the arrest was related to a drug situation not involving marijuana. NBC posted pictures of MSP vehicles and cargo carriers being loaded with items from Genesee Harvest.
A second police action on the following day occurred near The Sweet Leaf, a well-known Flint area center who is licensed by the city to distribute cannabis legally. Police conducted a search for fugitives involved in a recent fatal drive-by shooting, specifically Ramon “Skip” Bradley, a notorious Flint 16-year old. According to NBC 25 News, he had warrants for his arrest:
“Felony warrants against him include:
- Assault with intent to murder—4 counts
- Felony firearms—8 counts
- Carrying a concealed weapon—1 count
- Discharging a firearm from a vehicle—2 counts
- Witness intimidation—1 count
- Tampering with evidence—1 count
- Resisting and obstructing police—1 count”
The sweep did result in Bradley’s arrest, according to news reports.
NBC 25 initially reported that the sweep was “in connection with a raid on The Sweet Leaf, a marijuana dispensary near Dort Highway.” Shortly thereafter NBC updated the story to remove the section containing that statement. The damage was already done, though, as social media was ablaze with nervous patients asking serious questions about their trusted source of advice and support.
The news of police actions spread like wildfire throughout the local medical marijuana community, whose members are on edge following a series of police actions in Gaylord one week prior where five dispensaries were raided by MSP and local area narco raid teams.
The actions taken in Flint were conducted by FANG, the Flint Area Narcotics Group, a narco raid team whose oversight is maintained by the Michigan State Police.
Flint police have a new anti-drug squad introduced in 2016. The Crime Area Target Team (CATT) squad announced over $30,000 worth of marijuana was seized in a single month– February of 2017. They also seized 30 vehicles, $10,000 worth of cocaine and confiscated 30 guns during their execution of 19 search warrants.