Wally Kowalski’s assets and property were seized by law enforcement, but the police didn’t bother to charge him with a crime—until about twenty-four hours after the media began reporting his story.
Kowalski is licensed to grow small amounts of medical marijuana on his property. Police originally came to his door after spotting his marijuana plants from a helicopter. They seized his generator and other expensive property and tools, and froze his asset, but left him with no actual charges to contest or means of proving his innocence.
Police then arrested Kowalski in his home at 2 a.m., less than one day after the Mackinac Center for Public Policy published an interview with him highlighting his case.
From the Mackinac Center:
The police charged Kowalski with delivery and manufacture of 5 to 45 kilograms of marijuana, between 20 and 200 plants, a 7-year felony and/or carrying up to a $500,000 fine. He was also charged with distribution without remuneration, a misdemeanor.
Kowalski carries a medical marijuana card for himself and says he is the caregiver for four other valid cardholders. When police searched his house on Sept. 2, they could not find two caregiver cards. Kowalski says he lost the cards but did get replacements days later and turned them over to the police.
Kowalski told the Mackinac Center that the police denied any connection between the arrest and their report on the case. He added that the detective on the case had previously told him they would call him if they were to issue an arrest warrant, so he could turn himself in. “I can’t see the necessity of arresting me in the middle of the night,” Kowalski said.
His attorney confirmed the manner of arrest was “unusual.”
Read more from the Mackinac Center, and watch their original report below:
(h/t Reason)
