Ex-CIA agents sue Kansas police who raided their suburban home for drugs... after they bought special equipment to grow vegetables indoors

Adlynn and Robert Harte claim they were illegally targeted by local police
Their home was raided by Kansas police who failed to find any drugs
The Harte's claim the equipment was for growing vegetables indoors

PUBLISHED: 17:26 EST, 29 March 2013 | UPDATED: 01:03 EST, 30 March 2013

A Kansas home fruitlessly searched for marijuana during a two-state drug sweep turned out to belong to two ex-CIA employees

Two former CIA employees whose Kansas home was fruitlessly searched for marijuana during a two-state drug sweep claim they were illegally targeted, possibly because they had bought indoor growing supplies to raise vegetables.

Adlynn and Robert Harte sued this week to get more information about why sheriff's deputies searched their home in the upscale Kanas City suburb of Leawood last April 20 as part of Operation Constant Gardener - a sweep conducted by agencies in Kansas and Missouri that netted marijuana plants, processed marijuana, guns, growing paraphernalia and cash from several other locations.

The Hartes' attorney, Cheryl Pilate, said she suspects the couple's 1,825-square-foot split level was targeted because they had bought hydroponic equipment to grow a small number of tomatoes and squash plants in their basement.

'With little or no other evidence of any illegal activity, law enforcement officers make the assumption that shoppers at the store are potential marijuana growers, even though the stores are most commonly frequented by backyard gardeners who grow organically or start seedlings indoors,' the couple's lawsuit says.

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The couple filed the suit this week under the Kansas Open Records Act after Johnson County and Leawood denied their initial records requests, with Leawood saying it had no relevant records.

The Hartes say the public has an interest in knowing whether the sheriff's department's participation in the raids was 'based on a well-founded belief of marijuana use and cultivation at the targeted addresses, or whether the raids primarily served a publicity purpose.'

The couple's attorney says she suspects their home was targeted because they had bought hydroponic equipment to grow a small number of tomatoes and squash plants in their basement

The suit filed in Johnson County District Court said the couple and their two children - a 7-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son - were 'shocked and frightened' when deputies armed with assault rifles and wearing bullet proof vests pounded on the door of their home around 7:30 a.m. last April 20.

During the sweep, the court filing said, the Hartes were told they had been under surveillance for months, but the couple 'know of no basis for conducting such surveillance, nor do they believe such surveillance would have produced any facts supporting the issuance of a search warrant.'

The suit also said deputies 'made rude comments' and implied their son was using marijuana.

A drug sniffing dog was brought in to help, but deputies ultimately left after providing a receipt stating, 'No items taken.'

Pilate said no one in the Harte family uses illegal drugs and no charges were filed.

As well as growing vegetables, hydroponic equipment can be used to grow cannabis plants

The lawsuit noted Adlynn Harte, who works for a financial planning firm, and Robert Harte, who cares for the couple's children, each were required to pass rigorous background checks for their previous jobs working for the CIA in Washington, D.C.

Pilate said she couldn't provide any other details about their CIA employment.

Pilate said any details gleaned from the open records suit could be used in a future federal civil rights lawsuit.

'You can't go into people's homes and conduct searches without probable cause,' Pilate said.

Leawood City Administrator Scott Lambers said Friday that he couldn't comment on pending litigation. The sheriff's office also had no comment.

'Obviously with an ongoing lawsuit we are not able to talk about any details of it until it's been played out in court,' said Johnson County Deputy Tom Erickson.

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Not sure I really believe this. Who grows vegetable indoors using serious hydroponic equipment like that? I'm sorry. They might have gotten tipped off. Nothing good comes from those hydroponic stores. Not surprised the cops were conducting surveillance on those places. It's a shame I have a favorite restaurant next door to a place like that. They're so stupid, it's obvious what they're up to.

- drago42 , Gary IN, 30/3/2013 07:21

Click to rate Rating 7

I'm sick and tired of living in a police state.

- David_from_San_Diego , San_Diego_California_USA, United States, 30/3/2013 06:07

Click to rate Rating 17

Obviously if they had been under surveillance for months, their intel was flawed.

- J. Kenneth Pugh , Enfield, 30/3/2013 05:51

Click to rate Rating 15

Bad stuff. Obama continued Bush/Cheney/Rove/Ashcroft policies. At least these felony squash and tomato growers didn't get killed or tear gassed or anything. Thank goodness they weren't growing rutabagas.

- Skeptical , Bluff City, 30/3/2013 04:39

Click to rate Rating 21

They should move to Washington (state), where I live. Marijuana was legalized in my state this year. How legal has it become? Last week someone was giving away free marijuana plants (little ones) on Craigslist. The cops would never bother to raid you in this state, unless it were REALLY obvious that you had a big time grow operation. They certainly wouldn't search anyone's house who were growing vegetables. Of course the flip side to living in such a liberal state is that my state would very happily do away with your 2nd Amendment Rights.

- Garnet , Pacific Northwest, 30/3/2013 03:54

Click to rate Rating 16

They bought indoor equipment (grow lighting, tables, etc.) that drug growers buy for growing pot. The government not only watches who purchases this stuff plus how much electricity they use, but also have vans equipped with thermal imaging to drive through neighborhoods to detect growing equipment from the outside of homes. - Snowbodysnows , USA, 30/3/2013 00:36 They bought indoor equipment (grow lighting, tables, etc) that legitimate gardeners buy for growing legal plants. Here are some other items people use for illegal drug use: Brillo pads, spoons, razor blades, mirrors, cigarillos, pipes, pipe screens, lighters, etc. I suppose we should raid the homes of everyone who uses these as well?

- K. Flower , Chicago, 30/3/2013 03:40

Click to rate Rating 38

Some police departments will go to any lengths, such as raiding innocent homes based on phony evidence, in order to justify their budget requests and holding their place in the DHS funding trough.

- Garrick S. , Eugene, 30/3/2013 03:36

Click to rate Rating 34

If they had found a bottle of whisky in the place that would have been far more dangerous. - BeppeSapone , Belfast, 30/3/2013 02:03............If they'd found a 32 oz soda, Bloomberg would be in Kansas.

- Meh.. , USA, United States, 30/3/2013 02:55

Click to rate Rating 33

As Pink Said ---- ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL! Substitute Teacher for Government or Obama.

- Jim , Chesterfielf, 30/3/2013 02:45

Click to rate Rating 3

The government really wants access to your house, permantly. Remember the government considers it's citizens property.

- James Towne , Toledo, United States, 30/3/2013 02:18

Click to rate Rating 46

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