- The Washington Times - Tuesday, September 3, 2024

An Oakland Police Department officer accused of illegally growing cannabis at his suburban Antioch home is on administrative leave.

The OPD cop, Samson Liu, has been sidelined since April 30, Oakland police confirmed to Bay Area Fox affiliate KTVU Monday.

“The Oakland Police Department (OPD) is aware of the allegations made against one of our members and is cooperating with outside law enforcement agencies. … This is an ongoing personnel matter,” the department said in a statement, according to Bay Area NBC affiliate KNTV.

A CNN report Saturday claimed that in April, after having to use a power saw to get in, California Department of Cannabis Control personnel found 80 pounds of marijuana and evidence of a growing operation in a two-story, five-bedroom house owned by Mr. Liu.

No one was present and no arrests were made as a result of the raid, according to CNN.

Antioch, in Contra Costa County, has been the subject of more than 60 raids by state officials since 2022, according to KTVU.

“Nearly all of these grows that we’ve served search warrants on in the Antioch and East Bay area are run by Chinese organized crime,” Kevin McInerney with the California DCC told KNTV.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.

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