The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
YELLVILLE, Ark. — Officers in a helicopter spotted a “pretty nice” marijuana plant growing in the garden of a local volunteer fire chief, Sheriff Roger Vickers said Thursday.
The joint investigation by the sheriff’s office, the Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas National Guard resulted in the arrest of Ronald Barton, 57, on felony drug charges, Vickers said.
Barton, the chief of the Peel Volunteer Fire Department, was arrested Wednesday after officers spied a “well-manicured, 12- to 13-foot” marijuana plant in his garden, the sheriff said.
“We were flying over, and it stuck out so. You’d just have to see this plant to imagine,” Vickers said. “It was pretty nice.” Barton is charged with one count each of manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was released from the Marion County jail after posting a $25,000 bond.
Copyright 2009 Little Rock Newspapers, Inc.