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By KARA O'CONNOR

Villager Staff Writer


WILTON -- A Wilton man has been arrested for growing several marijuana plants on his property, according to Wilton Police.

Michael Czegledi, 40, of 12 Gaylord Drive South, was charged with illegal manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia on Friday, Aug. 27, at 6 p.m., according to police.

According to Lt. Don Wakeman of the Wilton Police Department, a detective from the department had gone to Czegledi's to inquire about something in a separate case and observed several marijuana plants growing in Czegledi's yard. Wakeman said the detective immediately went back to police headquarters and received a search warrant.

"This all happened in the same afternoon," said Wakeman. "Based on previous investigations involving Czegledi, the detective believed that there was a marijuana operation going on at his property."

The department's Detective Division, along with members of its Patrol Division and a Westport Police Department K-9 unit, executed a narcotics search warrant for Czegledi's home and seized 11 marijuana plants, each an average of approximately three feet in height, according to police. Detectives also seized literature for growing marijuana, a small quantity of marijuana buds, a digital scale, a water pipe and a smoke vaporizer.

Czegledi arrived at his home during the execution of the search warrant and was arrested, said police. Also arrested upon arrival to the residence was Czegledi's girlfriend, Laura Carlson, 28, also of 12 Gaylord Drive South. Carlson, a teacher at Rowayton Elementary School in Norwalk, was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia for items found inside her vehicle.

According to Wakeman, this isn't the first time that a marijuana growing operation has been found in Wilton, but it is the first time it happened so quickly.

"We have come across people growing marijuana plants at there home in Wilton before," said Wakeman. "But we were watching those houses for a while before we did anything. This investigation was completely unexpected and all in one afternoon."

Czegledi posted a $25,000 bond. Both Czegledi and Carlson have a court date on Sept. 9 at Norwalk Superior Court.

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