cannabisnews.com: Police Stage Surprise Harvest of Farmers Crop 





Police Stage Surprise Harvest of Farmers Crop 
Posted by FoM on September 10, 1999 at 11:15:31 PT
By Theresa D. McClellan
Source: Michigan Live
OTSEGO - It was a good tip.The Silent Observer caller had said an Otsego Township farmer was growing marijuana behind his cornfield.A rented police plane circling the area of 102nd Avenue found the spot and got the ground crew in place.
When police went to his door, the property owner - a retired farmer and factory worker - seemed resigned to his fate."He said he was trying to make ends meet, said he had bills to pay," said Det. Craig Gardiner of the Allegan County Sheriff's Department. The man was cooperative, so police did not arrest him Thursday."He's a long-standing member of the community, he's been there for a while and he's not going anywhere," said Gardiner, who will file a warrant for the alleged grower's arrest.Had he arrested the man Thursday, Gardiner noted, he would have spent the entire day handling paperwork instead of harvesting the crop.And the crop was a healthy one."He knew what he was doing; it's a pretty good-looking crop," said Gardiner.He estimated that had the grower harvested the crop of 210 mature plants, he would have had marijuana with a street value of more than $200,000.Because of the size of the crop, though, the alleged grower faces felony charges with a possible sentence of more than 10 years. But because he cooperated with police and does not have a prior record, Gardiner noted, he could receive probation.The detective said he does not feel sorry for the man who has lived in the area for 30 years."I believe people know the consequences if you get caught. He knew what he was doing, you could see the foot trail from his house to the stalks," said Gardiner.And the trail is no walk in the park.Police and a newspaper reporter had to walk atop mucky areas, brace through prickly foliage and high step over bowed tree limbs to reach the good stuff.It's rare that marijuana growers have the illegal substance on their own property, police said. But standing 10 to 15 feet tall behind the corn, through the field and in the swamp - paydirt."This is a good haul," Gardiner said, impressed at the size of the buds on the plants. The buds are what the users smoke. "If they're really desperate, they'll smoke the leaves," he said."These are some beauties," said one of the ground crew. The crew included drug officers from Holland Police, Norton Shores Police and Michigan State Police at the Wayland post.The Otsego Township crop was the first - and biggest - of dozens of sites authorities checked Thursday, based on tips.Each year in September, police agencies collect tips on illegal drugs growing in the West Michigan countryside. They make the harvest now because the growers plan for large numbers of customers during the Allegan County Fair, which opens this weekend.The project called Operation HEMP (Help Eliminate Marijuana Planting) is a cooperative effort of area police authorities.Last year the operation used helicopters, which makes it easier to direct the ground crew to the crop, said Gardiner. But with the helicopters grounded by a recall, the hemp hunters rented a plane and used radios.Gardiner wore a bright red bandanna to stand out. Michigan State Police trooper Orville Theaker donned a fluorescent orange cap. The other ground crew members, tough-looking undercover officers who also work on the streets, wore protective gear such as gloves and heavy boots.Officers in the plane directed the crew, who ripped plants out by the roots and hauled them away to be destroyed.A total number of plants and plots wasn't yet available, but Gardiner, who grew up in Allegan County and always wanted to be in law enforcement, was pleased with the days' efforts to keep the controlled substances off the streets."It just makes you feel good," he said.Friday, September 10, 1999Copyright 1999 Michigan Live Inc.
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