An Ozark County resident was spotted wearing a bear mask to hide his face while allegedly operating a marijuana-growing patch. According to the Ozark County Times, 43-year-old Tracy Henning of Thornfield was arrested last Sunday and is charged with a felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance.
Ozark County authorities were tipped off in late April of a possible marijuana-growing operation between U.S. Highway 160 and County Road 819 in Isabella. The unidentified landowner gave deputies permission to enter the property and set up surveillance measures. When they went to the area, they reportedly found marijuana plants in manicured holes and tires appearing to be filled with potting soil. Officers put up a camera earlier this month in an effort to get footage of the person growing the plants.
Deputies returned last Sunday to view the camera’s activity and spotted the individual in the bear mask watering the plants from a five-gallon bucket and planting more marijuana plants. The individual was later identified as Henning and transported to the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department.
On route to the jail, Henning allegedly admitted to growing marijuana for 20 years. He said he planned to sell the plants for $4,500 per pound totaling $90,000 from the 20 plants he was in possession of.
As Henning was being booked, he was drug tested after informing officers he was on probation. The results allegedly came back positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), methamphetamine and buprenorphine (BUP). Henning reportedly told deputies he used marijuana earlier that day and meth two days prior. He also said he had taken Klonopin, a prescription sedative medication.
The deputies later reviewed the footage and allegedly found Henning on three occasions, and he wore a different disguise each time. On July 18th, he was wearing a bandana on his head, sunglasses on his face and a pillow under his shirt to make him appear larger. Four days later, Henning was reportedly shown wearing a pillow case as a mask while tending and tranplanting marijuana plants.
Henning was in court Tuesday and waived his right to a preliminary hearing. He was in the Ozark County Jail on a $10,000 cash-only bond, but he is currently not listed on the jail roster.
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