Man reports girl missing, cops find pot

NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) -- A Newport man who called police to report his 10-year-old daughter missing has been arrested for allegedly growing marijuana.

The Newport Daily News reports that Antonio B. Carson Sr. was charged with manufacturing marijuana after police found 27 plants in his basement on Tuesday night while searching for the girl.

Officers began a door-to-door search of the neighborhood.

Police searched the first and second floors of Carson's apartment and then asked to look in his basement. The 50-year-old Carson initially said he did not have a basement but then led police outside, showed a bulkhead and said it led to a crawl space beneath the apartment.

Carson's daughter returned to the apartment while police were there.