A Portage resident was arrested Saturday on a charge of manufacturing a Schedule I substance after Portage Police said that he had established a psychedelic mushroom growing operation in his home.

Nicholas Thewes, 21, of 1261 Camelot Manor in the Camelot Estates Mobile Home Park, was being held on no bond, police said. Manufacturing a Schedule I substance is a Class B felony punishable by a term of six to 20 years.

According to police, the PPD’s STOP IT Team was dispatched to Thewes’ residence in response to a report of an unknown odor coming from his home. Thewes declined to provide the officers with any information, police said, but on obtaining a search warrant they observed protective suits and a room covered completely in plastic.

At that point, police said, the officers evacuated the residence in the belief that they had possibly uncovered a methamphetamine lab. The Indiana State Police’s Clandestine Lab Team was subsequently dispatched to Thewes’ home to assist in the investigation.

“Upon further inspection, it was discovered that the residence did not contain a methamphetamine lab but contained a psilocybin mushroom growing operation,” police said. “Officers found and confiscated 400 Mason jars containing mushrooms and mushroom-growing materials and an AK-47 rifle.”

“It is unknown how long Mr. Thewes has lived at the residence or how long ago he started his growing operation,” police added. “Police believe he just got the growing operation up and running. The value of the mushrooms or the materials is unknown. Mr. Thewes does not have a criminal history with the police.”

Posted 11/3/2009