DCP, ADDU report marijuana grow operation bust on Broach Avenue

ALBANY — A man remained in the Dougherty County Jail on Monday following a marijuana grow operation bust Sunday afternoon.

Albany-Dougherty Drug Unit agents served a search warrant at 1533 Broach Ave. at around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. During the raid, drug agents recovered a marijuana grow operation, where equipment and a storage facility were being used to manufacture marijuana, ADDU Commander Maj. Prurince Dice said.

Dice said agents also recovered several plants ranging from 4 feet to 8 feet in height, along with more than a pound of finished product from the residence.

Ronny Massey Jr., 40, was arrested and charged with manufacturing marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. He also faces an additional charge of fleeing and attempting to elude after Dougherty County Police attempted to conduct a stop for a traffic violation, Dice said.

The marijuana had a total street value of $15,250. About $1,100 in cash was confiscated, which Dice said investigators believe to be proceeds from the drug operation.

A shift report from DCP said an officer attempted to stop a motorcycle that failed to yield shortly before 5 p.m. at the Liberty Expressway and Broach Avenue. The motorcycle was followed at a distance to the registered address, and Massey was taken into custody.

The report said the arresting officer reported smelling a marijuana odor coming from a shed, and the case was turned over to ADDU. Dice said search warrants were obtained for the shed and the residence, and when investigators went inside they found the plants growing there.

Agents said LED lights were used in the shed, something relatively new to investigators in Dougherty County for the purpose of drug production.

“This is new for me,” Dice said. “Normally it will be the fluorescent type of bulb.”

The ADDU commander said Massey appears to have acted alone, but that investigators will continue to look into any possible connections he might have.

ADDU acting Field Operations Commander Lt. George Camp said LED lights do not draw as much energy or heat — which can make drug operations using them easier to miss.

“Heat produces information for us, and that is what we look for,” he said.

Dice indicated the ADDU might be willing to engage in training to help with catching suspects using newer methods. He also said no complaints came from the area Massey was operating out of, meaning he likely had a strong setup.

Drug agents said Massey was working as a musician at The Commons Church at the time of his arrest. A voicemail left at the church office was not immediately returned on Monday.

As of late afternoon Monday, jail records had Massey listed as unbondable.