Child Neglect Investigation Sparked by Medical Marijuana Grow Operation

The following is a roundup of recent reports:

Son of medical marijuana grower burned in condo fire

Birmingham Police are investing a possible case of child abuse and neglect after a small condo fire last weekend revealed a medical marijuana growing operation.

According to police reports, a small fire broke out at a condo on the 300 block of North Eton around 4 p.m. Saturday, during which the homeowner's 13-year-old son was burned on the shins. The boy's father owns the condo, police say.

While on the scene, police found the homeowner, the father of the teen, was growing medical marijuana. The man is registered by the state to grow the marijuana, police say, and the fire began in a different part of the condo than where the marijuana was being grown.

Birmingham Police Chief Don Studt said the boy was released to his mother, both of whom live in Beverly Hills. Studt said police called in child protective services to investigate the situation, though no charges have been filed.

"It struck me as kind of an odd situation, where the father has a grow operation and there was a kid," Studt said. "It's legal ... (but) I don't think that's proper."

Police make several drug-related arrests following traffic stops, house calls

Birmingham Police made multiple arrests for possession of marijuana and narcotics possession last week.

According to police reports:

• A 32-year-old Warren man was arrested April 20 on charges of possessing marijuana following a routine traffic stop downtown.
• A 44-year-old Hazel Park man was arrested Wednesday on charges of marijuana possession following a traffic stop at Woodward and Chapin.
• Also on April 20, a 19-year-old Birmingham man was arrested for a narcotics violation after drugs were discovered in his car after he had an accident at Coolidge and Yorkshire.
• On Saturday, a 25-year-old Waterford woman was also arrested on charges of narcotics possession after police were called to a home on the 2600 block of Yorkshire for an unrelated complaint.

Anyone with information about any of these incidents may call the Birmingham Police Department at 248-530-1889. If you have any questions about this report, email Laura.Houser@Patch.com