Butler County Sheriff's Office

[Public Info Officer]

For Immediate Release… August 4, 2006

Sheriff Declares Success in Marijuana Eradication Efforts

Butler County Sheriff Richard K. Jones reports Sheriff’s Deputies and Drug Agents, accompanied by other Agents from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigations, started the annual marijuana eradication effort in Butler County yesterday, August 3, resulting in the confiscation of 394 marijuana plants on the first day alone.

The plant confiscations were the result of aerial observation from the Sheriff’s aviation unit directing ground units to various marijuana crops often planted in rural farm areas, as well as completion of other investigations stemming from farmer and/or citizen complaints. Most of the confiscated plants that were spotted from the air are from the Morgan Township and Madison Township areas. One individual, James Dorn, age 22, of 2124 Wellington Rd., Middletown, has been cited into Middletown Municipal Court, charged with Cultivation of Marijuana. The Sheriff’s Office anticipates that additional arrests will be made upon completion of several other on-going investigations.

Sheriff Jones is pleased with the latest confiscations. “We will do whatever it takes to prevent the illegal growing and cultivating of marijuana in Butler County,” said Sheriff Jones. “These growers usually go to great extremes to try to hide their activities, but it’s hard to hide it from air patrols. What they should realize is that, if they grow it, we will come,” he said.

The Sheriff’s Office will continue with eradication programs throughout the summer. Additionally, the Sheriff’s Office works closely with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in conducting aerial observation flights in neighboring counties.

Prepared by: Sgt. Monte Mayer
Public Information Officer