GARNER, N.C. (WTVD) — Some fifth-graders at Johnston County’s West View Elementary School have been moved to another part of the building while repairs are underway on the mobile classrooms.

A spokesperson for the district said administrators were made aware of issues inside two of its rented trailers Monday: a hole in the ceiling of one and a hole in the wall of another.

A parent launched a petition Monday, concerned the hole in the wall of her fifth-grader’s mobile unit exposed a much bigger mold problem.

«It was clear that what was inside that wall was not OK,» said Holly Garrity.

Garrity’s petition, demanding permanent upgrades to the school’s mobile classrooms, garnered nearly 200 signatures in its first 24 hours.

«That is the wall where I guess water had gotten behind the wall,» Garrity said describing the photo she shared with her petition. «It had been there, it had bulged out and then finally popped or exploded somehow.»

She said the wall had been bulging for several weeks when the hole appeared.
An insurance claims adjuster, Garrity said she’s seen her fair share of mold and knows what it takes to clean it up; she said she’s sure mold is what she sees in the photo taken of the damaged trailer.

Dolores Gill, spokesperson for Johnston County Public Schools sent the following statement to ABC11:

«JCPS Facility Services has been working with West View Elementary school administration regarding roof leaks in two mobile units which house fifth-grade students at the school. These two units in question are rental units.

We became aware of these issues related to one of the mobile units yesterday. We contacted the rental company to assess and begin repairs on the roof leak which has caused a hole in the ceiling this weekend during the rain. The second mobile unit has a roof leak we found during inspection which caused wall damage. Both of these are being addressed today with a temporary patch due to impending weather. A permanent solution will begin tomorrow on the classroom repairs and the roof repairs will begin during this week dependent on dry weather conditions. There are no students in these rooms during these repairs.

We will implement all necessary steps to ensure that the repairs and air quality of these units are taken care of in a prompt and effective manner. We appreciate the collaboration with West View Elementary administration, Facility Services in JCPS, and with the rental company as necessary repairs are made. The educational environment for our students is crucial and important. School administration is communicating with the parents of the students in these classroom mobile units.»

Gill said there was another leak last year around the door to one of the same units that are currently damaged. Gill said there was moisture-related damage to the trailer that was repaired.

Garrity said she hopes she’ll feel good one day about sending her daughter back into the mobile unit where she spends most of her school day.

«I hope so, one day,» she said. «I think there’s criteria that needs to be met. But, it makes me nervous enough them being out there in the mobile units, there’s less protection just safety standards alone, but I don’t want — this doesn’t need to be one of them.»

FREMONT, Calif. — A Northern California couple’s rental property has been seriously damaged by a black market marijuana grow. The tenant is on the run, while police investigate. KGO I-Team reporter Dan Noyes gives us an exclusive look inside the home.

RELATED: How to spot a grow house

The Fremont couple contacted us because they are frustrated at what happened to their home, even though cannabis is now legal in the state of California. It looks like they are victims of an underground market that’s alive and well.

Anjali and Anil tell me they cared for their Fremont home like a baby, and kept it in pristine condition. Four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths in a nice neighborhood.

«Because my kids were born here, I have an emotional attachment to this house,» said Anjali.

It was also their nest egg for retirement, especially important after Anil’s recent heart surgery. When the couple moved to a new home, they decided to rent the Fremont house, placing this ad on Craigslist. They received an eager email from a man calling himself «Vincent Ho.» Police later told the couple he used a fake identity.

«He came to see the house with small kids,» Anjali said. «He was holding a baby and kids and he told us that he is recently divorced.»

Ho always paid rent on time and the owners inspected their house one year ago.

«House was spotless,» said Anjali. «It was furnished, obviously I don’t know if he was living there at that time, but it was spotless, it was so clean.»

RELATED: Cannabis manufacturing plant coming to East Bay industrial site

That changed dramatically.

The couple found out only after a 911 call last month about a fire at the house.

Fremont police and fire dispatch said, «Fire 97 working a structure fire. They’re requesting us Code 3. There’s an illegal gas line that’s been hooked up and they say it’s a possible grow house there.»

A grow operation overloaded circuits in the home; the wires leading to the meter caught fire. Firefighters and police found pot plants in every room and closet. Police counted 1,190 and found enough empty pots and supplies to grow about 300 more.

The tenant had made dramatic changes to the house — false walls to block windows, water irrigation systems, a rat’s nest of electrical wiring, holes smashed into walls and ceilings to run venting. The operation caused water damage and mold, and devastated Anjali and Anil.

«When I saw the extent of the damage, such disregard to somebody else’s property, it was shocking,» said Anjali.

Here’s a look at their kitchen before:

And after:

Anjali says Fremont police told her an operation of this size and complexity had to have been run by a gang.

Even though cannabis is legal in California for medicinal and adult recreational use, the high demand here and in other states where it’s not legal is driving the black market.

«As long as there is an illegal market, you will have bootleggers,» said Oaksterdam University Chancellor Dale Skye Jones. The school provides training for the cannabis industry.

She says these underground operations make it hard for growers who follow the law, «You’re paying all the taxes and the bills and the five people down the street are paying none of that and dropping the prices, and so you’re competing with the illicit market and it’s just simply unfair across the board.»

RELATED: CBD Oil: What you need to know

Anjali and Anil asked us not to use their last name. They’re trying to discourage anyone from finding their house and breaking in, to steal all that equipment and supplies left behind, while they negotiate with their insurance company about how much of this incredible damage is covered.

«According to police, the house is completely ruined,» said Anjali. «The inspector guy also told me they might have to just totally tear it down and build it, because it could be more damage inside the walls.»

Fremont police declined to give us any sort of interview on this case, the status of their investigation, even just the nuts and bolts of what they found. They also refused to give us a copy of the officers’ bodycam video saying it’s against their policy, even though many other agencies across the state do provide it.

FREMONT, Calif. — A Northern California couple’s rental property has been seriously damaged by a black market marijuana grow. The tenant is on the run, while police investigate. KGO I-Team reporter Dan Noyes gives us an exclusive look inside the home.

RELATED: How to spot a grow house

The Fremont couple contacted us because they are frustrated at what happened to their home, even though cannabis is now legal in the state of California. It looks like they are victims of an underground market that’s alive and well.

Anjali and Anil tell me they cared for their Fremont home like a baby, and kept it in pristine condition. Four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths in a nice neighborhood.

«Because my kids were born here, I have an emotional attachment to this house,» said Anjali.

It was also their nest egg for retirement, especially important after Anil’s recent heart surgery. When the couple moved to a new home, they decided to rent the Fremont house, placing this ad on Craigslist. They received an eager email from a man calling himself «Vincent Ho.» Police later told the couple he used a fake identity.

«He came to see the house with small kids,» Anjali said. «He was holding a baby and kids and he told us that he is recently divorced.»

Ho always paid rent on time and the owners inspected their house one year ago.

«House was spotless,» said Anjali. «It was furnished, obviously I don’t know if he was living there at that time, but it was spotless, it was so clean.»

RELATED: Cannabis manufacturing plant coming to East Bay industrial site

That changed dramatically.

The couple found out only after a 911 call last month about a fire at the house.

Fremont police and fire dispatch said, «Fire 97 working a structure fire. They’re requesting us Code 3. There’s an illegal gas line that’s been hooked up and they say it’s a possible grow house there.»

A grow operation overloaded circuits in the home; the wires leading to the meter caught fire. Firefighters and police found pot plants in every room and closet. Police counted 1,190 and found enough empty pots and supplies to grow about 300 more.

The tenant had made dramatic changes to the house — false walls to block windows, water irrigation systems, a rat’s nest of electrical wiring, holes smashed into walls and ceilings to run venting. The operation caused water damage and mold, and devastated Anjali and Anil.

«When I saw the extent of the damage, such disregard to somebody else’s property, it was shocking,» said Anjali.

Here’s a look at their kitchen before:

And after:

Anjali says Fremont police told her an operation of this size and complexity had to have been run by a gang.

Even though cannabis is legal in California for medicinal and adult recreational use, the high demand here and in other states where it’s not legal is driving the black market.

«As long as there is an illegal market, you will have bootleggers,» said Oaksterdam University Chancellor Dale Skye Jones. The school provides training for the cannabis industry.

She says these underground operations make it hard for growers who follow the law, «You’re paying all the taxes and the bills and the five people down the street are paying none of that and dropping the prices, and so you’re competing with the illicit market and it’s just simply unfair across the board.»

RELATED: CBD Oil: What you need to know

Anjali and Anil asked us not to use their last name. They’re trying to discourage anyone from finding their house and breaking in, to steal all that equipment and supplies left behind, while they negotiate with their insurance company about how much of this incredible damage is covered.

«According to police, the house is completely ruined,» said Anjali. «The inspector guy also told me they might have to just totally tear it down and build it, because it could be more damage inside the walls.»

Fremont police declined to give us any sort of interview on this case, the status of their investigation, even just the nuts and bolts of what they found. They also refused to give us a copy of the officers’ bodycam video saying it’s against their policy, even though many other agencies across the state do provide it.

FREMONT, Calif. (KGO) — A Fremont couple’s rental property has been seriously damaged by a black market marijuana grow. The tenant is on the run, while police investigate. I-Team reporter Dan Noyes gives us an exclusive look inside the home.

RELATED: How to spot a grow house

The couple contacted us because they are frustrated at what happened to their home, even though cannabis is now legal in the state of California. It looks like they are victims of an underground market that’s alive and well.

Anjali and Anil tell me they cared for their Fremont home like a baby, and kept it in pristine condition. Four bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths in a nice neighborhood.

«Because my kids were born here, I have an emotional attachment to this house,» said Anjali.

It was also their nest egg for retirement, especially important after Anil’s recent heart surgery. When the couple moved to a new home, they decided to rent the Fremont house, placing this ad on Craigslist. They received an eager email from a man calling himself «Vincent Ho.» Police later told the couple he used a fake identity.

«He came to see the house with small kids,» Anjali said. «He was holding a baby and kids and he told us that he is recently divorced.»

Ho always paid rent on time and the owners inspected their house one year ago.

«House was spotless,» said Anjali. «It was furnished, obviously I don’t know if he was living there at that time, but it was spotless, it was so clean.»

RELATED: Cannabis manufacturing plant coming to East Bay industrial site

That changed dramatically.

The couple found out only after a 911 call last month about a fire at the house.

Fremont police and fire dispatch said, «Fire 97 working a structure fire. They’re requesting us Code 3. There’s an illegal gas line that’s been hooked up and they say it’s a possible grow house there.»

A grow operation overloaded circuits in the home; the wires leading to the meter caught fire. Firefighters and police found pot plants in every room and closet. Police counted 1,190 and found enough empty pots and supplies to grow about 300 more.

The tenant had made dramatic changes to the house — false walls to block windows, water irrigation systems, a rat’s nest of electrical wiring, holes smashed into walls and ceilings to run venting. The operation caused water damage and mold, and devastated Anjali and Anil.

«When I saw the extent of the damage, such disregard to somebody else’s property, it was shocking,» said Anjali.

Here’s a look at their kitchen before:

And after:

Anjali says Fremont police told her an operation of this size and complexity had to have been run by a gang.

Even though cannabis is legal in California for medicinal and adult recreational use, the high demand here and in other states where it’s not legal is driving the black market.

«As long as there is an illegal market, you will have bootleggers,» said Oaksterdam University Chancellor Dale Skye Jones. The school provides training for the cannabis industry.

She says these underground operations make it hard for growers who follow the law, «You’re paying all the taxes and the bills and the five people down the street are paying none of that and dropping the prices, and so you’re competing with the illicit market and it’s just simply unfair across the board.»

RELATED: CBD Oil: What you need to know

Anjali and Anil asked us not to use their last name. They’re trying to discourage anyone from finding their house and breaking in, to steal all that equipment and supplies left behind, while they negotiate with their insurance company about how much of this incredible damage is covered.

«According to police, the house is completely ruined,» said Anjali. «The inspector guy also told me they might have to just totally tear it down and build it, because it could be more damage inside the walls.»

Fremont police declined to give us any sort of interview on this case, the status of their investigation, even just the nuts and bolts of what they found. They also refused to give us a copy of the officers’ bodycam video saying it’s against their policy, even though many other agencies across the state do provide it.

Take a look at for a look at more stories by Dan Noyes and the ABC7 News I-Team.