Pubdate: Sat, 17 Aug 2002 Source: Times Daily (Florence, AL) Copyright: 2002 Times Daily Contact: http://www.timesdaily.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1641 Author: Emilio Sahurie, and Tom Smith SWEEP NETS MARIJUANA PLANTS Less than two months after a sweep, drug agents aboard helicopters returned to the Shoals, netting more marijuana plants and arresting several alleged growers. Drug agents hovering near the Greenhill community surprised at least one suspect standing outside his home. Many of the 1,000 marijuana plants confiscated since Tuesday were grown in backyard operations, said Lauderdale County Chief Deputy Ronnie Willis. "One suspect noticed the chopper, and then started breaking off the plants and throwing them over the fence," Willis said. This week's eradication effort covering Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties ended Friday. Members of the Governor's Drug Task Force teamed with area law enforcement officers in the second drug roundup since late June. Lauderdale County Drug Task Force agent Harry McGee said some of the plants were as high as 12 feet tall and were hidden under camouflage nets. "The eradication is working and paying off," McGee said. "We are seeing less than in past years." About 2,200 plants were seized in June's operation, he said. Arrested in Lauderdale County were Timothy Bretherick, 43, 4062 Lauderdale 94; James Dollar, 135 Berry Lane, Florence; and Carlos Watkins, 24, 201 Lauderdale 610, Rogersville. All three men face drug-related charges, Willis said. Deputies expect to arrest a fourth man in connection with the operation, he said. Colbert County Sheriff Ronnie May said helicopter sweeps netted about 640 plants and left deputies with drug-related leads to follow. There weren't any plants seized in June in Colbert County because state officials didn't give deputies warning they were visiting. "We want them to come back," May said. "But we were definitely more successful than the first time around." Eradication efforts in Franklin County were conducted Thursday and Friday. The two-day search of the county resulted in law enforcement officers finding 192 plants. Franklin Sheriff Larry Plott said the plants found at two locations in the county ranged from a few inches to 12 feet tall. Officers found 138 plants behind a residence and in a pasture north of Gravel Hill Road in the southern portion of the county. Plott said that 54 plants were found off Franklin 63 south of Russellville. No arrests have been made, but Plott said charges are pending. "We're going to carry one case to the grand jury,'' the sheriff said. "On the other, we expect warrants to be issued, and arrests could be forthcoming.'' Plott said that a number of areas in the county were checked during the two-day eradication effort. "Sometimes, you have good luck; sometimes you don't,'' the sheriff said. "We looked throughout the county, but these 192 plants were all we came up with at this time. "Sure, we'd like to get all of it, but this county is a large area to cover, and I'm pleased with getting what we did. We want our citizens to know that we're going to do all we can to rid the county of illegal drug activity.'' - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart