RED HOOK — The owner of a local cherry factory fatally shot himself Tuesday after authorities discovered a massive pot-growing operation at his warehouse while probing him for illegal dumping, officials and sources said.
Arthur Mondella, 57, who owned Dell's Maraschino Cherries in the Dikeman Street factory near Ferris Street, yelled out, "Take care of my kids" before shooting himself in the head just before 1 p.m. when investigators began to uncover the large-scale marijuana operation, sources said.
Investigators smelled a strong odor of marijuana at the facility, prompting Mondella to say, "I have to go to the bathroom," where he used his licensed .357 magnum revolver to shoot himself in head while his sister and investigators stood outside, sources said.
Investigators ultimately found 80 pounds of pot at the factory, broken up into four garbage bags, sources said.
The incident was first reported by the New York Daily News.
The cherry factory and its owner were the subject of a city and state investigation into illegal dumping and "environmental crimes" on Tuesday when the incident took place, sources and the Brooklyn District Attorney's office said.
Mondella cooperated with the investigation for the first couple of hours before authorities began to smell the faint scent of marijuana, sources said.
As they moved through the massive 67-year-old factory, the odor started to get stronger, sources said.
The smell appeared to come from behind what looked to be a temporary wall that did not reach all the way to the ceiling, sources said.
Investigators looked over the wall and discovered the pot-filled garbage bags, as well as stacks of cash totaling tens of thousands of dollars, sources said.
They also found a series of high-end vehicles, including a Rolls-Royce, Porsche and Harley-Davidson motorcycle behind a secret entrance in the basement of the factory, sources said.
