As a result  of a report of Theft of Power made by the Matanuska Electric Company and the subsequent investigation, Alaska State Troopers discovered a commercial grow operation at an address off of Yadon Drive on Thursday afternoon.

Alaska State Troopers applied for and received a search warrant for the residence suspected of stealing power from MEA. The Statewide Drug Enforcement Unit, along with the Criminal Suppression Unit, served the warrant on the address and subsequent to that discovered a commercial grow operation consisting of approximately 200 cannabis plants in varying stages of growth.

In addition to the discovery of the plants, troopers had also interrupted a crack-cooking process when they arrived. The owner of the house hid from troopers among his marijuana plants but was located and arrested.

Troopers identified the suspect as 37-year-old Kevin Mielke of Wasilla. He was charged with Theft II and Misconduct Involving a Controlled Substance III and IV x4.

Mielke was transported to the Mat-Su Pretrial Facility where he was remanded with his bail set at $10,000 and a Court Approved Third Party Custodian.

MEA reported the cost of stolen power at $1,358.

  arrest, bust, cannabis, cocaine, commercial, crack, csu, drug, marijuana, operation, sdeu, troopers