Officers pull marijuana plants

Last week, members of the Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office, Wahkiakum County Sheriff’s Office and the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Narcotics Task Force located and eradicated over 5,350 growing marijuana plants north of the Kalama River in Cowlitz County.

The plants were discovered during routine over flights of Weyerhaeuser owned land.

Wahkiakum County Undersheriff Jon Dearmore and Deputy Sheriffs Jeff Fifthen and Josh Grasseth participated in the project.

Acorrding to taskforce representative, the bulk of the marijuana plants were taken from a single location approximately eight miles east of I-5. Evidence located in the site indicated that at least two suspects were staying in the grow site while tending the plants. Agents believe the suspects fled the area shortly before law enforcement members entered the grow site. A small battery operated radio was located next near a jacket and trimming tools – with the sound still audible from headphones – when agents walked through the grow to eradicate the plants. Agents also found drying marijuana buds, handgun ammunition, cooking and camping supplies and a .22 caliber air rifle in the grow site.

Dearmore said the plants were growing in small clearning among trees. The estimated value of the plants is in the millions, he said.