Aurora, IL – What began as a routine house fire call turned into a major drug bust in Aurora this week after police uncovered a large cannabis grow operation inside a residence on Ashwood Lane.
According to the Aurora Police Department, officers and firefighters responded to a reported fire on September 13 at around 7:23 a.m. Fire crews quickly contained small flames near the home’s entrance before they spread further. While investigating, firefighters reportedly noticed signs of a cannabis grow operation in the basement and alerted responding officers.
A protective sweep revealed hundreds of cannabis plants, grow lights, and altered electrical equipment. Police detained the two residents: 32-year-old Ryan P. Prey, identified as the homeowner, and his 20-year-old male roommate. Prey allegedly had visible injuries from a separate incident in Chicago earlier that day, though police noted those injuries were unrelated to the fire…