WayneNet busts Fairville couple

Wednesday afternoon, law enforcement officials from WayneNet and the Wayne County Sheriff's Department raided the home of Bridget and Jud A. Briggs of 3412 Route 88 North, and uncovered a marijuana growing operation.

WayneNet members Sgt. John Colella of the Macedon Police Department, Investigator John Clingerman of the Newark Police Department, Lyons Police Chief Michael Donalty.

Police found inside growing facilities, marijuana processed and packaged for sale, as well as plants on the property up to eight feet high.

Newark Police Chief Richard Bogan called the sophisticated marijuana growing and processing facility 'definitely a business operation,' adding that in his many years of investigating narcotics operations he had never seen anything like this outside of a training manual.

Bogan and several members of the Newark Police Department were at the scene as part of WayneNet, a cooperative effort of area village and town police agencies, an effort to keep such drugs from reaching their communities.

Both Jud and Bridget Briggs, both 35 years old, were arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana , and will probably face additional charges. They were remanded to Wayne County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail or $100,000 bond. A large cache of guns was also seized from various locations in the home by police. Bogan indicated that WayneNet investigators have contacted the DEA to consider a 'project exile' case because of the extensive growing operation, and the firearms.

Chief Bogan indicated that the Wednesday operation was not connected with last week's discovery of a large marijuana field in the area of Parker and Jungle Roads.

Sheriff Richard Piscotti said that in a rural setting like Wayne County, there is potential that other operations like this may exist. 'These operations pose a health and safety threat to the community.' he added.

Newark Police Chief Bogan and Wayne County Sheriff Richard Piscotti view one of three 'growing rooms' in the Briggs residence where marijuana plants were grown in a climate controlled atmosphere.

top of page

Copyright © 2006
Courier-Gazette, 613 S. Main St. Newark, N.Y. 14513 - 315-331-1000
All Rights Reserved