Beach police: High electric bill lead to marijuana bust

VIRGINIA BEACH

Police found 118 marijuana plants in a home in the 4900 block of Mandan Road earlier this month, according to a police spokesman.

An unusually high electricity bill alerted police to a possible marijuana-growing operation, the warrant said.

According to the warrant, police conducted surveillance at the home and checked its electricity bill, which at times exceeded those of similarly sized homes in the neighborhood by about $400. Police also found growing equipment, scales, ledgers, packing materials and smoking devices, said Officer Adam Bernstein, a police spokesman.

Eric Wayne Haxter, 33, was charged with manufacturing marijuana, according to court records. His preliminary trial hearing is scheduled for June 11.

Kathy Adams, (757) 222-5155, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com