Oct 3, 2014 2 min read

A Canonsburg man was charged with drug violations Friday by borough police after officers received a tip he was growing marijuana in his backyard.

Nicholas Pihiou, 46, of 429 Chartiers Ave., was charged by police with possession and possession with intent to manufacture marijuana and possession of paraphernalia after 16 plants allegedly were found growing in his yard Aug. 12.

Police received a tip from a resident who spotted the plants while walking down an alley between Chartiers and Duquesne avenues. The informant noticed a garden through a chain-link fence and spotted the marijuana plants growing among some tomato plants, police said.

The tipster provided police with the address, as well as a description of the house.

Officer Matthew Tharp went to the address and said he spotted a marijuana plant near the tomato plants in the garden. Tharp then contacted his partner, Officer Scott Bashioum, and reported his findings.

The two officers went to the door and talked with Pihiou. He reportedly gave police written consent to search his house and outside the residence. Police said Pihiou walked through the house with the officers, showing them where he kept his marijuana.

A small bag of marijuana was on the coffee table, and there also were several pill bottles with no labels, police said. Inside of one of the bottles was a black, tar-like substance Pihiou allegedly told police was marijuana scraped from pipes and bowls. Police said they also found several pieces of paraphernalia, including a bong.

Police said the officers went outside and found additional marijuana plants on the opposite side of the yard.

Cecil Township police Officer Jeff Holt responded to assist with his K9, Miner. Police said a marijuana plant cut from its roots was found under a staircase, and several other plants were found in potting containers.

The charges were filed Friday at the office of District Judge David Mark. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled.