Roanoke Rapids police today uncovered a 3,000 square feet indoor marijuana growing operation on the third floor of the Bargain Wonderland building at 300 Roanoke Avenue.

The discovery of the operation was uncovered when officers searching the former Harding and Grizzard building at 298 Roanoke Avenue discovered links in possession to the buildings.

Kenneth Lewis Brooks, who is on probation for dog baiting back in April, is currently in custody awaiting charges, Major Tommy Hathaway of the police department said.

The search warrant in the old Harding and Grizzard building was the result of a lengthy investigation and a recent traffic stop involving Brooks in which he was allegedly found to be in possession of moonshine.

Pelfrey is escorted into the 300 Roanoke Avenue building by Roanoke Rapids Police Chief Jeff Hinton, left, and ALE Agent Tim Parker, right.

While Hathaway would not specifically say the April investigation into dog baiting played a part in today’s investigation he did say, “Any past investigation helps us with future investigations.”

The search warrant was initially initiated for the 298 Roanoke Avenue address where four to five Mason jars of moonshine was found along with a large amount of weapons that Hathaway termed “copious amounts of weapons.”

Officers also found pot and spurs that are used in cockfighting. There is no evidence cockfights were held in the building, Hathaway said.

As they continued the investigation, officers learned there was a link in possession of the two buildings and applied for a search warrant for the building at 300 Roanoke Avenue, Hathaway said.

During execution of this search warrant, officers with the police department’s special response team, criminal investigation division and narcotics agents found an indoor marijuana growing operation encompassing the third floor of the building, which Hathaway estimated to be 3,000 square feet.

Hathaway said it appears to be the largest indoor grow operation in the city’s history. There was no sign of the manufacture of moonshine in either building, Hathaway said. North Carolina Alcohol Law Enforcement agents were on the scene to assist.

Brooks is likely to be charged on manufacturing and marijuana trafficking counts, Hathaway said.

Halifax County District Attorney Melissa Pelfrey and members of her staff were on scene to help determine the charges. A box van was at the scene to carry evidence.