Site search
sponsored by
News
Sports
ENLARGE
Douglas County Sheriff's Deputies reach out to control a load of marijuana as it is lowered from a helicopter into a truck for disposal Sept.14, 2007 near Glendale.
As the season for outdoor marijuana grows comes to a close, police arrested two Eugene men Monday caught after allegedly harvesting plants on forest land in the Drain area.
Detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team arrested Martin E. Tripp, 50, and Mark Laharty, 51, near Milepost 17 of Smith River Road at about 7 p.m., according to a DINT press release.
The grow was found on land accessed by a Bureau of Land Management Road, and the men had carried a firearm into the site with them, according to the release.
Following the arrests, police went to Laharty's home and seized additional marijuana plants, which had already been harvested. In all, police seized about 100 plants.
The case marks the end of the grow season. DINT detectives eradicated more than 21,000 marijuana plants this year, many from far corners of Douglas County, according to the press release.
The narcotics team investigated 18 illegal outdoor grow cases this season, the majority on private company forest land. Ten cases have resulted in arrests, and additional arrests are possible as evidence is processed.
Grows managed by Mexican drug cartels remain a top priority for DINT. Five of the grows this season were run by cartels, including two on BLM land, two on private forest land accessed by BLM roads and one on Forest Service land. No arrests have been made in these cases, according to the release.
The cartel grows average about 4,000 plants each, and usually involved armed suspects who camp out at the site. These grows are considered the most harmful to the environment due to extensive trimming of marketable trees, landscaping activities, and fertilizer and trash left at the scene.
“It is of concern that there continues to be an increase both county and statewide in the number of Mexican cartel grows,” said DINT Commander Lt. Curt Strickland in the press release, “due to the potential for violence and environmental damage.”
He asks that the public, particularly hunters and forest workers, to be alert and report suspicious activity to police.
Six of this year's total grows involved medical marijuana card growers who were out of compliance with the state law. Such cases usually involve suspects growing five to 10 plants over their legal limit, according to the press release.
Twelve of the total grows were located by helicopter. Helicopter rentals are made possible by a federal grant.
This year's total plants seized compare to 9,642 plants in 2008, 18,725 plants in 2007 and 2,130 plants in 2006.
Detectives with the Douglas Interagency Narcotics Team arrested Martin E. Tripp, 50, and Mark Laharty, 51, near Milepost 17 of Smith River Road at about 7 p.m., according to a DINT press release.
The grow was found on land accessed by a Bureau of Land Management Road, and the men had carried a firearm into the site with them, according to the release.
Following the arrests, police went to Laharty's home and seized additional marijuana plants, which had already been harvested. In all, police seized about 100 plants.
The case marks the end of the grow season. DINT detectives eradicated more than 21,000 marijuana plants this year, many from far corners of Douglas County, according to the press release.
The narcotics team investigated 18 illegal outdoor grow cases this season, the majority on private company forest land. Ten cases have resulted in arrests, and additional arrests are possible as evidence is processed.
Grows managed by Mexican drug cartels remain a top priority for DINT. Five of the grows this season were run by cartels, including two on BLM land, two on private forest land accessed by BLM roads and one on Forest Service land. No arrests have been made in these cases, according to the release.
The cartel grows average about 4,000 plants each, and usually involved armed suspects who camp out at the site. These grows are considered the most harmful to the environment due to extensive trimming of marketable trees, landscaping activities, and fertilizer and trash left at the scene.
“It is of concern that there continues to be an increase both county and statewide in the number of Mexican cartel grows,” said DINT Commander Lt. Curt Strickland in the press release, “due to the potential for violence and environmental damage.”
He asks that the public, particularly hunters and forest workers, to be alert and report suspicious activity to police.
Six of this year's total grows involved medical marijuana card growers who were out of compliance with the state law. Such cases usually involve suspects growing five to 10 plants over their legal limit, according to the press release.
Twelve of the total grows were located by helicopter. Helicopter rentals are made possible by a federal grant.
This year's total plants seized compare to 9,642 plants in 2008, 18,725 plants in 2007 and 2,130 plants in 2006.
