Round Lake Park police: Pot plants on roof lead to arrests

Marijuana plants placed on top of an apartment roof, apparently to accelerate growth, led to the arrests of a father and son, Round Lake Park police said.

Police Chief George Filenko said a search warrant for the Clifton Drive apartment was obtained Friday, May 31, after a confidential informant forwarded a photograph of roughly a dozen pot plants on the roof. Filenko said the building on the 0-100 block of North Clifton has a restaurant at street level and the apartment on the second floor, where there is easy roof access.

Daniel A. Schaefer, 51, who lives with his son in the apartment, was charged with production of cannabis sativa, possession of cannabis with intent to deliver, possession of cannabis and possession of drug paraphernalia. Filenko said the same charges were leveled against Dustin D. Schaefer, 25.

Both Schaefers must post 10 percent of a $50,000 bond to be released from the Lake County jail before trial, police said.

Filenko said officers found a “growing laboratory” in the second-floor apartment with an unsophisticated hydration system for the marijuana plants. He said police also confiscated scales, packaging and drug paraphernalia.

Officers then went to the roof to seize the marijuana plants, Filenko said, where they apparently were placed to take advantage of natural lighting, fresh air and warmer weather.

“My detectives felt they were airing out the plants,” he said.

In March, a mother and her son from Round Lake Park were hit with drug charges after police said they confiscated nearly 2 pounds of marijuana and various prescription narcotics with an approximate street value of $10,000. Police said the drugs were found in the Morningside Drive home of Alicia Gordon, 36, and Kenyatta D. Triplet, 19, as part of a continuing investigation.