POPLAR POLICE CHIEF'S HOME SEARCHED FOR SUSPECTED MARIJUANA GROWING

A search of Poplar Police Chief Chad Hilde's home found several
suspected marijuana plants and items used in the plant's growth,
according to a press release from Roosevelt County Sheriff Freedom
Crawford.

According to the release, deputies from the county sheriff's office
executed a search warrant for a suspected marijuana grow Friday at
Hilde's residence north of Culbertson.

Deputies seized the plants and "material allegedly utilized in the
growth of marijuana," according to the release.

The release said deputies will be applying for an arrest warrant for
Hilde through the Roosevelt County Attorney's Office.

Crawford, reached by phone Saturday night, said the search was spurred
by information his department received. He said the search was part of
the department's Operation New Beginning launched in spring 2009 to
keep illegal drugs out of the community.

"We arrested 36 people last fall for prescription drugs," Crawford
said.

"Last summer, we arrested 15 people for manufacturing meth in
labs."

The sheriff said the focus "is definitely not to target anyone
specific," but to uncover people who are involved in trafficking,
manufacturing, growing or selling illegal drugs in Roosevelt County.