Cops: 'Extensive Marijuana Growing Operation' on Maryland Ave

A Glen Cove man was arrested Wednesday night following an investigation that revealed an extensive marijuana growing operation, say police.

According to detectives, members of the Nassau County Police Department Criminal Intelligence Rapid Response Team and Glen Cove Police responded to 2A Maryland Avenue to investigate a strong smell of marijuana emanating from inside.

While interviewing John Basile, 34, at the address, detectives observed a digital scale, marijuana pipe and small amount of a substance believed to be marijuana on a desk. Basile was taken into custody and his two year old daughter removed to a local hospital where she was admitted for observation.

Police responded back to the home a short time later to execute a search warrant for the premises and allegedly discovered an extensive marijuana growing operation. 

They recovered a digital scale, metal knuckles, marijuana pipe, several pounds of a substance believed to be Ketamine, several grams of a substance believed to be Benzylpiperazine, multiple grams of a substance believed to be MDMA (Ecstasy), several pounds of vegetation believed to be marijuana and over thirty marijuana plants.

Basile was charged with six counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance, second degree criminal possession of marijuana, third degree criminal possession of a weapon and endangering the welfare of a child. 

He will be arraigned at First District Court in Hempstead on Thursday.