Officials investigating driver’s death in retention pond, residential grow-op

Update: The victim in Sunday's crash has been identified as former Newcastle Parks Commissioner Curtis Gray, 57.

Update: The victim in Sunday’s crash has been identified as former Newcastle Parks Commissioner Curtis Gray, 57.

Gray was on Newcastle’s first Parks Commission from 2004 through 2010. The King County Medical Examiner ruled Gray’s death by drowning an accident.

A celebration of life will be held on Aug. 27 at Mary, Queen of Peace Church in Sammamish.

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Original story: The Bellevue Fire and Police departments are investigating a residential marijuana growing operation uncovered during a fire and the death of a man who drove into a retention pond Sunday.

Around 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 21, firefighters responded to a small house fire in the 2100 block of 170th Ave NE. Upon entering the home, a large scale grow operation was discovered inside, according to fire department spokesperson Ryan Armstrong.

The small attic fire was quickly contained and the home sustained little damage from the fire. No occupants were found inside the home and no firefighters were injured.

It is unclear at this time if the marijuana growing operating was legal or not, according to police.

Later that morning, firefighters responded to a call of a car that had crashed through a chain link fence and fell 30 feet into a retention pond at the corner of 150th Place Southeast and Southeast 80th Street.

The male driver was found deceased inside of the vehicle. His identity had not been released at press time.

The case has been forwarded to the King County Sheriff’s Office Major Accident Response team.