A discovery of a possible marijuana grow operation in Newton County led the recovery of stolen property. According to Newton County Sheriff Keith Slape, explosives were also found at the residence in the community of Bass.
Slape says a sheriff’s office investigator and an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission corporal were patrolling the area Tuesday when they observed from the road what appeared to be large marijuana plants growing in plain view. The officers’ suspicions were confirmed when they looked closer at the plants with binoculars. After unsuccessfully attempting to make contact with the residents, the officers inspected the plants further and found they were hidden behind wooden pallets but grew too big for the pallets to conceal.
The officers also located a large Gooseneck trailer along the road in front of the residence, and its serial number and description matched the trailer recently reported stolen to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office. In addition, a Kubota side-by-side UTV, two canoes, a John Deere lawnmower and a large box blade were located in plain view on the property, and all the items were allegedly stolen from the same victim. Several other marijuana plants were also found in plain view.
After a search warrant was obtained, officers located a gun reported to be stolen from Pope County, several items of drug paraphernalia, processed drugs and several other firearms. Explosives were also found on the property, and the Arkansas State Police Bomb Squad was called in.
No arrests were made at the time of the search, but Sheriff Slape says his office has known suspects, and arrests are pending. The sheriff says other items stolen from the victim were not located, but he has information on those assisting the suspects move the property, and more items are expected to be found soon.
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