Suspect behind mushroom growing operation arrested

PEORIA, AZ - Police arrested an Avondale man suspected of operating a large scale growing operation of hallucinogenic mushrooms on Wednesday after a search of his apartment.

The 22-year-old suspect, Brandon McCreary is suspected of growing, drying, packaging and selling Psilocybin Mushrooms and has now been charged with possession of dangerous drugs, possession of dangerous drugs for sale, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

When the Avondale Police Department's Undercover Street Crimes Unit searched the Peoria apartment, near 91st Avenue and Bell Road Wednesday morning, they found marijuana, over 5 1/2 pounds of dried mushrooms separated into numerous baggies, 18 large plastic storage bins with live mushrooms as well as other equipment that was part of anelaborate growing system.

Police reported that a bedroom and bathroom within the apartment were dedicated to the growth of the mushrooms and had a system to limit natural light, and create humidity within the plastic tubs where the mushrooms were planted.

Police estimated that the packaged dried mushrooms alone were worth between $11,000 and $15,000.