Shed fire leads to discovery of marijuana plants, police say

A Farmingville man was arrested after firefighters responding to a shed fire Wednesday morning discovered several marijuana plants, Suffolk County police said.

A police spokeswoman said firefighters and the police arson squad were called to a home on College Hills Drive in Farmingville at about 11:35 a.m. after receiving a call about a shed in flames behind a house.

The fire was quickly extinguished and there were no injuries or damage to the house, police said. An arson squad investigation concluded that an electrical problem sparked the fire.

Detectives found 16 marijuana plants inside the shed during their investigation and arrested Jason Bugiada, 43, a resident of the home.

Bugiada was charged with misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

“Long story short, I had cancer and they found a little bit of my marijuana,” Bugiada said in a brief telephone interview.

According to News 12 Long Island, Bugiada said he smoked marijuana for medicinal purposes when he had thyroid cancer.

Police declined to comment on Bugiada’s claim.