Large Marijuana-Growing Operation Uncovered after Brother Shoots Brother in Monessen, PA

Officers found 149 plants, nutes, lights/other supplies, thousands of dollars in equipment

SOURCE: www.wtae.com
AUTHOR: Ashlie Hardway

MONESSEN, Pa. -A fight that led to one brother shooting another in Monessen also resulted in officers uncovering a large marijuana-growing operation, police said.

According to a criminal complaint, Stephen Tchirkow, 32, said he was assaulted by his brother, Gregg Tchirkow, 35, Thursday at their home in the 400 block of Knox Avenue.

Stephen Tchirkow was knocked down during the scuffle and his brother started hitting him in the head with a rifle, the complaint said. The two brothers then struggled over the firearm and Stephen Tchirkow pulled the trigger, shooting his brother in the hand.

Inside the home, officers found evidence of a large marijuana-growing operation, including 149 plants, plant food, lights and other supplies, as well as thousands of dollars in equipment. Authorities were seen leaving the home with bags full of plants, some as tall as 7 feet.

"This wasn't somebody's hobby that they started in their basement. This was a very expensive operation. The equipment was not homemade. It was all ordered from catalogs," Monessen Police Chief John Mandarino said. "I would estimate there's at least $30,000 to $40,000 hydroponic equipment in the house."

Neighbor Eugene Saldino said Stephen Tchirkow called him to tell him he shot his brother.

"From what I understand, there was a lot of yelling and screaming. Stephen said his shoulder was knocked out of place and that he had shot his brother," Saldino said. "They seemed like they were quiet, normal people. Now you can't really judge people by what they look like."

At Stephen Tchirkow's arraignment, he told Judge Joseph Dalfonso, "I'm dismissing these charges right now because this was self-defense."

Dalfonso told Stephen Tchirkow he was the judge and that was his arraignment. He then set his bond at $50,000 straight cash.

After the arraignment, Stephen Tchirkow told Pittsburgh's Action News 4 Reporter Ashlie Hardway he was innocent.

Stephen Tchirkow: Self-defense.
Hardway: What about all those weed plants they found in your house?
Stephen Tchirkow: They're not my weed plants.
Hardway: Did you know they were in there?
Stephen Tchirkow: No.
Hardway: You were living in there and didn't know all those weed plants were in there?
Stephen Tchirkow: It's like an apartment building.

The house at 462 Knox Ave. is actually a single-family home, and police said there were marijuana plants and equipment to grow it on multiple levels.

Even though Stephen Tchirkow said he knew nothing about the plants at first, when Hardway asked him again how he couldn't know such items were on every floor of his home, he said, "It wasn't every floor."

Both brothers are facing aggravated assault charges. Police said they will likely add drug charges later. Stephen Tchirkow was sent to the Westmoreland County Prison following his arraignment. Gregg Tchirkow remains at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital awaiting arraignment.