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.''