On Wednesday May 13, at approximately 7:46 p.m., the Berks County emergency dispatch center received a 9-1-1 call relative to a working structure fire with occupants at on Lehman Street in Douglassville.
At approximately 7:53 p.m., officers from the Amity Police Department arrived on location and spoke with the 9-1-1 caller. The 9-1-1 caller stated that he observed what he believed to be a working fire at a residence on Lehman Street. The 9-1-1 caller responded in an attempt to warn occupants of the dwelling.
The 9-1-1 caller knocked on the door of the residence and was eventually met at the door by an unknown male of Asian decent (later identified as Giau Van Doan). The 9-1-1 caller attempted to warn Giau Van Doan about the working fire but was met with Giau Van Doan closing the door of the residence on the 9-1-1 caller.
A short time later, Officer Reinhart arrived on Lehman Street Douglassville and observed smoke emanating from the eve / roof of the residence. At this point, officers and fire fighting personnel attempted to forcibly enter the residence in an attempt to save the occupant(s) and extinguish the fire.
Once inside the residence, officers made contact with Giau Van Doan coming from the basement of the residence. Firefighting personnel extinguished the fire in the basement near the homes electric panel. Additionally, officers and firefighting personnel observed that the residence was an operational clandestine marijuana manufacturing laboratory. Officers observed hundreds of suspected marijuana plants in different stages of growth, electric ballasts, high intensity light bulbs and fixtures, exhaust system, and numerous bags of packaged marijuana. Officers observed that the home’s electric panel appeared to have been tampered with.
Officers placed Giau Van Doan into custody and secured the residence pending the application of a search warrant.
On May 14, at 12:30 a.m., Magisterial District Judge issued a search warrant for the aforementioned premises. Detectives served the search warrant at 6:15 a.m., and seized the following items; over 500 marijuana plants, (15) fifteen clear plastic zip-lock baggies each containing one pound of high grade marijuana, $5,000 in U.S. Currency believed to be proceeds from the sale of marijuana, and numerous items of paraphernalia associated to the manufacturing of marijuana.
Based on the evidence reviewed, detectives determined that the residence on Lehman Street, Douglassville, is consistent with a residence established solely to conduct an operational clandestine marijuana manufacturing laboratory.
Giau Van Doan was charged with the aforementioned violations of the Pa Crimes Code and the Pa. Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act. He was currently awaiting preliminary arraignment.
A review of Berks County records revealed that the property owner for the residence is Giau Van Doan.
