By Laura Crimaldi
The Boston Herald
BOSTON — A Boston firefighter is facing charges in Maine that he and his father were running a marijuana growing operation — on top of the drunken driving and pot possession charges he’s already facing in the Pine Tree State.
Maine state troopers who raided the secluded Litchfield property belonging to firefighter Paul Bradley Jr., 24, and his father, Paul Bradley Sr., 57, said they found 22 marijuana plants and a pot-growing operation in a two-story garage, and 2 1/2 pounds of pot in a mobile home, a Maine Department of Safety spokesman said. The men were arrested near their Boston and Revere homes yesterday morning.
At the younger Bradley’s arraignment on fugitive from marijuana trafficking charges, defense attorney Amanda Sheehan said the firefighter’s dad is taking responsibility for the pot-growing operation on the property that they jointly own. She said Bradley Jr. owns the property in name only and has not visited since 2008.
“He had no knowledge of it at all, let alone any participation in it,” she said. Bail of $10,000 was posted for Bradley within an hour of his arraignment.
Bradley, who is assigned to Engine 33 in the Back Bay, is already free on $300 bail on a drunken driving charge in Maine and is due to appear in a Maine courtroom today on a civil violation for pot possession.
Lewiston police arrested Bradley just before 1 a.m. on Jan. 21 after he was clocked allegedly traveling 62 mph in a 25 mph zone, said police Lt. Mark Cornelio. A 1.2-mile chase ensued before Bradley stopped, Cornelio said. He was charged with drunken driving, speeding and failure to stop for a police officer. He was also fined $350 after the arresting officer found several marijuana joints in his 2008 Nissan Frontier pickup truck, Cornelio said.
Bradley did inform the Boston Fire Department of the January arrest, said spokesman Steve MacDonald. He said no decisions have been made about Bradley’s employment. Bradley is due back to work on Friday.
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