When firefighters responded to a house fire last summer, they thought they saw marijuana growing inside the front door. The homeowner has since been charged with a misdemeanor.

David A. Knight, 55, Switz City, has been charged with possession of marijuana involving growing or cultivating marijuana – first time offender, a Class B misdemeanor.

Major George Dallaire of the Greene County Sheriff’s Department began an investigation on the scene of a house fire that occurred on Sunday, July 28.

The Switz City Fire Department had responded to a house fire at Knight’s residence on West County Road 60 North in the Switz City area and Dallaire was dispatched around 2:11 a.m. When Dallaire arrived on the scene around 2:25 a.m., he first talked to Fire Chief Bryan Woodall and Firefighter Jordan Hasler. Both Woodall and Hasler also serve as police officers.

Chief Woodall and Firefighter Hasler told Dallaire that after putting the fire out, during a walk-through inspection, they saw a marijuana grow area inside the front door of the house. They had taken pictures of the scene and Dallaire, who is certified by the Indiana State Police Lab as a Marijuana Leaf Identification Expert, said the plants in the photos appeared to be marijuana.

When Dallaire interviewed Knight on the scene, Knight allegedly admitted he had marijuana growing inside - about five plants about 3-inches tall.

According to Dallaire, Knight said he started growing marijuana as a favor to a friend who had cancer and it was also for himself because he suffers from leg cramps and does not want to buy an unknown product. Dallaire said Knight agreed to a warrantless search of his residence.

Dallaire reported he found a pop-up grow tent with five plants approximately 3-inches tall, grow lights and ventilation equipment. The plants were collected as evidence. Knight was not taken into custody.

Following this investigation, a criminal case was filed against Knight in Greene Superior Court and he was sent a summons ordering him to appear at an initial hearing today, September 30. However, the hearing was vacated after Knight retained a defense attorney, Edward McGlone of Terre Haute, and a motion was filed to waive the initial hearing.

Knight’s case is currently scheduled to be back in court for a pre-trial conference on October 28.