APD officers raid marijuana businesses

KNIK-FAIRVIEW — Anchorage Police Department officers visited a Valley business and residence Thursday as part of an apparent investigation into local drug facilities.

At least one marked APD car was parked on a quiet residential street in a residential neighborhood. Kids played in the open and dogs wandered through neighborhood yards. Several patrol cars arrived at the house about 4 p.m., neighbors said. Five remained by the time a Frontiersman reporter arrived on-scene about 6:30 p.m. Two hours later, police officers quietly entered the home, and could be seen moving from window-to-window. They emerged from the house along Snug Harbor Avenue about 8:30 p.m. carrying several shopping bags, cartons, and a plastic milk jug. By about 9 p.m., they drove off.

The house belongs to Rocky Burns, owner of Discreet Deliveries. The marijuana retail and delivery business operated in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and the Valley, and in the nebulous gray zone created by Ballot Measure 2, until Thursday afternoon. A series of posts to Discreet Deliveries’ Facebook page described the accompanying raid on his business, which began at 4:20 p.m., according to one user.

“We apologize to anyone who did not receive their delivery today,” user David Hodge wrote. “Unfortunately we will have to remain closed until further notice. Again we do apologize for the inconvenience. We hope that you will join us in fighting for our rights so that we may service our congregation once again!!!”

Burns himself wrote that they had tried to reach out to Gov. Bill Walker and Alaska Attorney General Craig W. Richards with no success, including a flight to Juneau in an attempt to meet with Walker. Burns said he was told Walker’s open-door policy didn’t apply to him.

“On Aug. 6, both Rocky’s house and our Discreet Deliveries office doors were kicked in, guns pointed in children’s and employees’ faces and all items [seized], even down to personal property (phones, purses, kids, iPads, etc.),” a post on the Discreet Deliveries Facebook page reads.

The Burns family largely kept to themselves after acquiring the house in 2002, several neighbors said. Josh Shoemake lives kitty-corner to Burns, and remembered long amiable conversations about government, society, and drugs.

“He’s not a bad person,” Shoemake said. “He just had some points of view that were going to get him in trouble.”

Burns’ business was one of six targeted by Alcohol Beverage Control cease-and-desist letters issued in late June. The businesses were mostly recently opened, and at least two offered marijuana for commercial sale, which is illegal under present law. The Alaska Cannabis Club, operated by outspoken legalization proponent Charlo Greene, was also served a search warrant Friday afternoon, according to Greene’s Facebook page.

The owners of another business on the list — Absolute Chronic Delivery Company — said they had returned home from an office supply run to find their business surrounded by SWAT Team officers with weapons drawn. Fearing an imminent arrest, Nicole Crites, who owns the business along with her husband, John, went home to be with their children while John returned to see to the business.

“I think this is a waste of time and excessive force and misappropriated funds,” Crites said via phone Friday.

No one has been arrested or charged yet. Officers seized most of the company’s stock of marijuana and left the rest in shambles, Crites said.

“There are buds just laying on the floor,” she said.

Northern Heights hookah lounge also received a cease-and-desist letter, but said they were planning to celebrate Saturday with a large re-opening party. Northern Heights also does not sell marijuana directly.

Theresa Collins, spokeswoman for Anchorage-based Pot Luck Events, said their business had not been visited by law enforcement.

“It’s my understanding it’s an ongoing investigation for a distribution network,” she said. “We don’t distribute at all. We don’t offer anything for donations. We’re not distributing marijuana.”

People should be allowed to decide illegal and legal substances on an individual basis, Collins said. Police should instead focus on violent crime, she said.

“I’ve always maintained that it’s their choice,” she said. “I don’t think this is ‘what was coming to them.’”

Collins and Discreet Deliveries both encouraged supporters to attend a rally outside the meeting of the Alaska Marijuana Control Board, scheduled for 9 a.m., Monday at the Robert B. Atwood Building in Anchorage.

APD issued a two-sentence statement through spokeswoman Renee Oistad.

“Criminal investigations are being conducted on illegal drug distribution facilities by law enforcement,” she said. “In the event criminal charges are filed and arrests made, more information will be made available at that time.”

Contact Brian O’Connor at 352-2269, brian.oconnor@frontiersman.com, or on Twitter @reporterbriano.