Police ask for help from the public
Marijuana eradicated from local field
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

Some marijuana growers will find a surprise when they get ready to harvest their crop this year.

In a cornfield near Napoleon, 20 marijuana plants were recently eradicated by police after a farmer tipped them off. The farmer found the plants when he was spraying his field and while he sprayed them and killed some, a few survived.

After Deputy Tom Grills of the Ripley County Sheriff's Department, took the complaint, he contacted the Indiana State Police, who flew over the area and took aerial pictures. The pictures clearly showed where the illegal crop was growing and officers were ready to return to the field to pull up the plants.

"These plants are poor quality and haven't had a lot of attention," noted Deputy Grills, as most of the plants were less than three feet tall. Marijuana can grow to 12 feet high and at maturity, the street value is about $1,000 per plant, according to officials.

Deputy Grills was assisted by troopers from the Indiana State Police, Versailles Post - Michael Caplinger and Jeremy Franklin. Trooper Caplinger, who heads the marijuana eradication unit, noted that cornfields are a popular place for marijuana to be found. "Those growing it think it can be hidden and they also take advantage of the fertilizer the farmers use on their crops," Caplinger said.

What those growing marijuana in the cornfields do not know is police have high-tech covert cameras set up in fields to watch the illegal activity. "We've made several arrests from using this equipment," stated Caplinger, saying the cameras are so small they are virtually not able to be detected.

Police say landowners will note prosecuted just because marijuana is found growing on their property. Typically, people growing marijuana find a farm field that does not belong to them to plant in.

Officers say there has been a decrease in the number of outdoor "marijuana grows". They say this could be attributed to the increase in the manufacturing of methamphetamine, which is a growing concern for law enforcement.

With September being prime harvest season for the illegal crop, officers are asking the public for their help. If you suspect marijuana may be growing in a specific area, contact the sheriff's department at 812-689-5555 or 812-689-5558 or the State Police at 1-800-566-6704 or 689-5000.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO

Law enforcement officers were able to destroy about 20 marijuana plants recently after a farmer tipped them off. Pictured standing are Trooper Jeremy Franklin and Trooper Michael Caplinger of the Indiana State Police, Versailles Post, and Deputy Thomas Grills of the Ripley County Sheriff's Department. Police ask citizens to be on the look out for marijuana plants this time of year.