Emergency workers called to a home in North York for a medical call stumbled upon a marijuana grow operation that contained 473 plants, Toronto police say.
Paramedics and police officers were called to a home on Lorne Bruce Drive over the noon hour on Tuesday, where they found a 47-year-old man without vital signs. Despite efforts to revive him, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
"We're still waiting for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death, but we believe it's medical," Det. Sgt. Mike Selvaggio told CTV.ca on Wednesday.
After attending to the man, officers obtained a search warrant and then found the large quantity of marijuana plants (valued at $473,000), cocaine, cash and five stun guns.
The deceased man's common-law wife, 47-year-old Susie Presutti, has been charged with:
- Producing marijuana
- Possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking
- Possession of marijuana
- Possession of cocaine
- Possession of a controlled substance
- Theft of electricity or gas
- Unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon
Presutti was scheduled to appear at the Old City Hall courts on Wednesday.
