Brian Samuels, 25, of Lexington Park

Before officers with St. Mary’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) drug unit began carting out the 120 marijuana plants located inside a house on Evergreen Park Road early Monday morning, two officers were rushed to the hospital and 50 area residents were evacuated when fumes present were thought to be toxic.

The fumes turned out to be non-toxic; some sort of liquid fertilizer, BCI Commander Lt. Daniel Alioto said.

The fertilizer was part of a highly sophisticated “hydroponics” growing operation, a growing method that uses nutrient-laden water instead of conventional soil to create a more potent and expensive plant, according to the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

The 120 plants seized, of which Alioto said some were so large they could be classified as tree “saplings”, were given a value of $1,000 each by officers, bringing the total value of the crop to $120,000.

DEA public information states this high-end variation of marijuana could fetch as much as $6,000 per pound, bringing the maximum possible street value of the plants to $720,000, presuming that only one pound is taken from each sapling-sized plant.

Alioto said the department is sticking with the original estimate of the drugs’ value.

As reported earlier, police responded to 48502 Evergreen Park Lane late Sunday night for a shooting report. Neighbors told police someone had been shot and was inside the residence.

After no response at the door, police went inside and found Brian Samuels, 25, also known as “B”, suffering from a gunshot wound to the lower arm, the victim of an apparent robbery attempt. They also found a forest of marijuana that dominated every room in the house.

Alioto said officers seized a small amount of cash during the bust, and told The Bay Net it is unknown how much cash could have been stolen during the possible robbery attempt because Samuels was tight-lipped with officers.

The amount cash stolen may have been large, as unnamed sources who were aware of the growing operation tell The Bay Net huge sums of cash were rumored to be kept in the house.

Police also seized approximately $200 worth of Hashish, a marijuana derivative, $500 in illegal psilocybin mushrooms, and various pills (Quaaludes valued at $400).

Police say the growing equipment in the house was valued at about $20,000, and police seized two handguns, a 2002 Honda and $12,000 from two bank accounts.

Samuels was charged with felony possession of marijuana and manufacturing marijuana. Additional charges are pending a State’s Attorney and Grand Jury review, Alioto said.

In response to the presence of fumes, which were believed by some to be the signs of a methamphetamine laboratory, personnel responded from St. Mary’s County Emergency Management, Patuxent River Haz-Mat Team and various St. Mary’s County Volunteer Fire Departments and Rescue Squads.

The road was also blocked off and area residents sheltered in nearby Spring Ridge Middle School until the fumes were deemed non-toxic.

Alioto said, “it was a very elaborate operation,” and will take some time to sort through all evidence. Additional investigation into the underground drug market in St. Mary’s County is certain and additional arrests are possible.

The Bay Net has learned that persons believed to been associated with Samuels have been identified and are under investigation.

No court date has been set yet for Samuels, a former economics major and St. Mary’s College graduate.