Pot Bust Quite a Coincidence

You might call planting 11 three-foot-tall marijuana plants in full view of your driveway (and the adjoining street) asking for trouble.

If so, Michael Czegledi of 12 Gaylord Drive South did and was doing just that before his arrest on Friday. And he found it when, according to police, a Wilton detective headed to Czegledi's residence to make an inquiry on an unrelated matter Friday afternoon.

"The detective just happened to pull into the driveway to ask a question of him," said Wilton Police Lieutenant Don Wakeman. "He observed what he thought were marijuana plants that were visible outside. He left the residence, came back [to the station], called the prosecutor, prepared a warrant and went down [to execute it] later that afternoon."

When police returned to the Czegledi's residence, they promptly found 11 marijuana plants growing in his back yard. In addition, they also discovered literature for growing marijuana, a small quantity of marijuana buds, a digital scale, a water pipe and a smoke vaporizer inside the residence. Wakeman said a Westport K-9 unit was brought in to assist in the search and helped turn up "a couple small, individual baggies" of marijuana.

Police aren't sure whether the growing operation was meant for personal use or wider distribution.

"There's no indication based on what we know and saw and have learned from our interview with [Czegledi] that there was any type of trafficking involved at this time," Wakeman said. "We have a statement from him on what his claim is...11 marijuana plants, fairly decent sized. That's a fairly large quantity of marijuana growing in someone's back yard."

Though police don't necessarily believe Czegledi intended to distribute the marijuana growing in his yard (he was charged with illegal manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia, but not intent to distribute), that he was in possession of a digital scale does raise questions. A news release also said that Wilton officers had reason to believe Czegledi was involved with marijuana as a result of some "previous history" they had with him.

Wakeman said there have been similar arrests in Wilton in the past for marijuana growing operations and many times they are the result of joint investigations with state police. Czegledi's case, however, didn't have any "additional evidence that this had been ongoing for a lengthy period of time," and he was cooperative during questioning.

Czegledi eventually posted a $25,000 bond and was released with a court date of Sept. 7 at Norwalk Superior Court. His girlfriend, Laura Carlson, was also arrested and charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Carlson arrived at Czegledi's residence during the search and promptly admitted to officers that she had a small quantity of marijuana and a pipe in her car.