FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lieutenant Dale Hampton, Investigations Commander
 dhampton@lakewalesfl.gov (863) 678-4223 ext. 2018 | Cell: (863) 632-6303 

Former GrowHealthy employee arrested after stealing over 20 pounds of Marijuana

Lake Wales, Fla. (July 18, 2025) – On July 9,2025 former employee, Kadeem Jones, was reported to have entered the GrowHealthy facility before his scheduled shift and stole approximately 21.52 pounds of cannabis. The value of the cannabis was valued at $132,833. 

Detectives attempted to obtain the surveillance video footage but after eight days of no action taken, the Lake Wales Police Department executed a search warrant at the GrowHealthy facility located at 309 South Acuff Road. After reviewing footage of the incident, he was seen gathering white tubes containing cannabis into a plastic container and putting the container on top of a black tub also containing cannabis. Surveillance footage shows Jones walking out of the building with the tub, placing it into a vehicle and proceeding to drive away from the facility. 

Upon the report, Jones was initially identified by the Director of Compliance and Security, Michael Schower, through electronic logs that show where Jones scanned his badge to enter. His identity was later confirmed by his supervisor, Wyatt Grooms, after reviewing the surveillance footage. 

On Thursday, July 17, detectives visited his residence in Dundee and 33-year-old Kadeem Jones was arrested for Possession of Cannabis with Intent to Sale, Grand Theft greater than $100,000 and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The missing cannabis has not been located and the investigation is ongoing. The Lake Wales Police Department will be forwarding the investigation to the Department of Health who is responsible for licensing businesses to cultivate, process, and dispense medical marijuana to qualified patients.