Gators and dance pole found at Olympia area pot house

Drug dealers are known to use all manner of defenses to protect their product, from security cameras to booby traps to guard dogs. Sheriff’s investigators in Thurston County think a Scott Lake area homeowner was using alligators to guard his marijuana grow operation.

Deputies investigating a shooting Monday night found the five-foot long gators in a grow room in the man’s house.

“We were able to, with the assistance of the suspect, get the alligators corralled into a bathroom and we were able to collect our evidence and conduct our crime scene search,” said Thurston County Sheriff’s Lt. Greg Elwin.

Investigators think the 41-year-old homeowner shot a 30-year-old man in a drug dispute. “When the 30-year-old showed up at the 41-year-old’s house, the 41-year-old opened fire on him while he was still inside his truck,” said Elwin. The homeowner claimed he fired in self defense, but he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The wounded man left the scene and was later driven to Providence St. Peter Hospital where was treated and released.

If that’s not strange enough, inside the house, Lt. Elwin says deputies also saw a floor-to-ceiling brass pole. Investigators interviewed a witness who told them she is an exotic dancer.

Meanwhile, firefighters found marijuana growing in three rooms at a house fire in Renton Tuesday morning.

The source of the fire was in the attic and appears linked to the grow operation. The exact cause and damage estimate are not yet available.