POLICE DESTROY DRUG FIELDS

151 Marijuana Plants Found, Cut Near Milton

State police destroyed multiple fields of marijuana growing around the
Milton area Monday.

With the aid of a helicopter, the state police found and cut 151
plants growing along Cooper's Ridge and Rock Camp Road near Milton.

State police believe the marijuana finds will net one arrest in the
near future.

The state police use the helicopter in Cabell County about once a year
to find marijuana, said Sgt. A.H. Arnold, the Cabell County detachment
commander for the state police.

During the rest of the year, the state police use tips given by
residents to find marijuana crops, he said.

Including Monday's effort, the state police have eradicated about 400
to 500 plants in Cabell County in the last two months, Arnold said.

The effort by police has a noticeable impact on the local drug trade,
Arnold said, with each plant carrying an average value of $1,500 to
$2,000.

The eradication efforts also send a message about how serious the
state police take the drug problem, Arnold said.

"It opens the eyes to the general public that we are trying to stop
this," Arnold said.

"Drugs are one of the biggest problems we have with crime. When they
don't have money, one of the next things you know, they break into
houses, because they don't have money to buy it."

The state police may bring the helicopter back this week to Cabell
County to search for more marijuana crops, depending on the weather.

The public can play a valuable role in marijuana eradication by
immediately reporting any marijuana sightings to police, Arnold said.
In about 90 percent of the cases, a marijuana grower will use someone
else's property to grow the illegal crop, he said. If someone spots a
marijuana patch, they should call the state police at (304) 528-5555.