Three arrested on P.E.I. after mistaking hops for marijuana

Three people from Charlottetown who mistook a Stratford, P.E.I., hopfarm for a marijuana operation were arrested over the weekend.

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On Saturday at 3:45 p.m., Stratford RCMP responded to a complaint from a farmer who grows hops for beer production. He'd seen three adults near his farm buildings, RCMP stated in a written release.

Two men and one woman from Charlottetown werequickly taken into custody, police said.

"The three adults told RCMP members that they thought there was marijuana growing on the farm," police said.

Extensive damage

They caused extensive damage to the farm's crop that was packaged for shipping.

"This senseless act has impacted the farm's ability to provide quality product to market," police noted.

Charges of break, enter, theft and mischief and two counts of breaching court orders have been laid against one 23-year-old man, who was held in custody over the weekend, police said. Two others were released and are scheduled to appear in provincial court later.

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