A raid at a Coosa County home led to the arrests of two men and the confiscation of more than $300,000 worth of marijuana.
Coosa County sheriff’s deputies, along with narcotics agents with the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency, carried out the search warrant Friday, July 21, at a home in the Hanover community on Coosa County Road 75, authorities announced Tuesday.
Sheriff Terry Wilson said lawmen arrived at the home about 2:40 p.m. and found convicted felon Randolph Pearce at the residence. Authorities showed Pearce a copy of the search warrant, and indicated he had a few marijuana plants.
Deputies and agents then searched the home and an outbuilding on the property, where they found an elaborate hydroponic marijuana grow operation. The system was complete with grow lights, timers, irrigation, fertilization and more, the sheriff said. There were about 30 marijuana plants in the outbuilding.
Inside the house, investigators found 32 plants in a plant-cloning apparatus, rooting compound and other items used to manufacture marijuana. In addition, there were several bags and trays of marijuana in various stages of drying. A significant amount of drug paraphernalia was also located.
ALEA narcotics officials estimated the street value of the hybrid plants to be as much as $310,000.
While officers were carrying out the search warrant, 46-year-old Anthony Wayne Grogan was arrested trying to flee the scene. A search of his home and vehicle turned up illegal drugs and weapons, authorities said.
Grogan is charged with possession of a controlled substance, certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia, first-degree possession of marijuana and first-degree manufacture of a controlled substance. He was jailed on bonds totaling $45,000.
credit:al.com