Raleigh firefighter arrested on marijuana charges

A Raleigh firefighter was arrested Tuesday on accusations that he grew marijuana inside his home.

Christopher Glarum, 31, of 4014 Haithcock Road, Raleigh, faces numerous charges, including one count of trafficking in marijuana, two counts of possession with intent to manufacture, sell and distribute marijuana and one count of possession of a stolen vehicle.

Police arrested Glarum and two others while investigating a report of a stolen 1971 Porsche from Marietta, Ga., that was being sold online.

Search warrants indicate Raleigh police seized 26 marijuana plants, a temperature timer, firearms and more than $3,000 in cash from Glarum’s home.

Two other people, Tara Denise Champion, 29, and Brad Michael Demott, 26, were also charged in the case.

Glarum, who’s been a Raleigh firefighter for six years, is on unpaid suspension, “pending future developments,” Raleigh Assistant Fire Chief Rusty Styons said Thursday.

“Our image and what we project to the public, what we really strive to be, certainly is not reflected in these actions or these allegations,” Styons said.

This is the second investigation involving a Raleigh firefighter in a matter of days.

Herman Gregory Ellis, 39, is accused of working as a firefighter in Raleigh while collecting thousands of dollars in disability retirement pay in New Jersey.

Raleigh Fire Chief John McGrath said on Tuesday that “appropriate attention” and “appropriate steps” have been taken in the case but declined to comment further, calling the case a personnel issue.