COLUMBIA, SC — Columbia police raided a home off Veterans Road after a telephone tip earlier in the week about a marijuana growing operation there, Columbia Police Chief Randy Scott said in a news release.

Officers allegedly found one mature marijuana plant growing in a closet decked out with reflective wall paper and special grow lights at 1033 Coatesdale Road in a neighborhood across Veterans Road from the Dorn VA Center. Investigators also allegedly found 15 one-ounce bags of marijuana. The value of the marijuana plant and ounce bags was estiated at more than $10K, Scott said.

Benjamin Thomas Doar, 25, was charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession with intent to distribute, and intent to distribute close to a school. The Coatesdale address is just over 1 mile away from the private Hammond School campus at 854 Galway Lane and the public Meadowfield Elementary School at 525 Galway Lane.

Doar was being held at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center Thursday evening.

-- Rachael Myers Loiwe