Pubdate: Sun, 08 Oct 2000
Source: Akron Beacon-Journal (OH)
Copyright: 2000 by the Beacon Journal Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.ohio.com/bj/
Forum: http://krwebx.infi.net/webxmulti/cgi-bin/WebX?abeacon
Author: George W. Davis

MARIJUANA SPOTTED IN THREE COUNTIES

Police Air-Support Unit Sees Bright Green Drugs Growing Near A
School

Most law enforcement agencies would think the marijuana growing
season is over, but two Stark County sheriff's deputies have the proof
that it isn't in Stark, Summit and Portage counties.

On a routine maintenance run with their OH6A Cayuse reconnaissance
helicopter, Red Horse Aviation partners Herman Valentine and Joe Gild
found growing areas near Atwater, Ravenna, Barberton, Norton, Magnolia
and Plain Township yesterday. Red Horse is a law enforcement
air-support unit based at the Akron-Canton Regional Airport.

The pair and National Guard friend Ed Porter barely were in the air
when they spotted, landed and removed 100 plants, worth $1,000 each,
in a field of 10-foot high brush just south of Barr Elementary School,
off 47th Street Northeast in Stark's Plain Township.

``We had just gotten into the air on our usual 14-day maintenance
check when this area of bright green just jumped out at us near Barr
School,'' explained Valentine. He and Gild have flown reconnaissance
drug missions for area law enforcement agencies for several years,
both through the National Guard and now with their own agency.

The bright green marijuana plants stand out now because the corn and
other plants shielding the drugs all summer are now brown, said Stark
Sheriff Timothy A. Swanson.

``It's very easy to find at this time of year. It's almost
fluorescent,'' Swanson said.

The Red Horse team turned the plants over to sheriff's Inspector Steve
Ready and Canton Detective Sgt. Ronald Shank, who are in charge of the
Stark Metro Narcotics Unit. Their officers will try to determine who
owns the property where the marijuana was found and who was
cultivating the field, Swanson said.

Red Horse authorities said they will contact law enforcement officials
about the other areas where marijuana was spotted to assist in its
removal.
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