Search at pumper’s premises produces pot

HOUSTON — A septic pumper and erstwhile city council candidate arrested last week for allegedly threatening to shoot troopers was apparently also growing weed.

According to a filing in federal court — where he has not yet been charged with a crime — Kenny Champ first came to the notice of authorities on Sept. 26.

Alaska State Troopers went out to his property to investigate complaints he was dumping raw sewage into a creek off Bench Lake Drive. Champ shut the door on troopers and allegedly then dialed 911 to tell dispatchers he had a gun and was going to shoot. Troopers retreated. Four days later, though, investigators with the state Department of Environmental Conservation paid a visit to the property.

“Oct. 5, 2011, a laboratory analysis by (a laboratory) disclosed the fecal coliform concentration were over safe limits and were indicative of illegal sewage dumping,” according to a sworn statement Trooper Vance Peronto filed in federal court. “Witnesses also reported smelling a foul odor of both sewage and a chemical, bleach-type odor.”

On Dec. 6, troopers filed for a search warrant. On Dec. 7, they served it.

“Pursuant to the service of the aforementioned search warrant, investigators discovered a commercial marijuana grow operation inside an outbuilding located on the property listed above,” Peronto wrote.

Troopers amended the search warrant to include the grow in addition to the evidence of illegal dumping.

The grow was sizeable by local standards, containing 1,700 rooted plants. Troopers say inside Champ’s home they found processed marijuana, a scale, five guns, and $18,000 cash. When he was arrested, Champ had $2,000 more in his wallet.

At the time of his arrest last week, troopers made oblique references to possible federal drug and weapons charges. While it remains unclear what charges those might be, there are statutes prohibiting keeping guns in the same place as drug operations.

Champ’s business practices have been a source of some ire at the city of Houston for more than two years. Back in October 2009 the city cited him $300 a day for as long as it took Champ to finally dig up two septic tanks he’d buried in wetlands in violation of city ordinances.

More than 50 tickets were written before the tanks were yanked and then-mayor Roger Purcell declared victory.

In October, Champ ran for city council.

His platform was unclear — he declined media requests for an interview at the time and did not attend a Frontiersman-sponsored debate at the area’s senior center — he lost his election to Gina Jorgensen.

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.