Deputy Levi Mcmurtry,

On December 12, 2014 around 0630 hours, Lt. Robbie Silas, Deputy Wes Stallings and Deputy Levi McMurtry responded to Goshen Lake Drive South in reference to three suspicious persons. Upon arrival the complainant stated that his wife was dressing their small child when she observed three males outside of her bedroom window walking through their yard. The complainant went outside to confront them and they fled in a white truck. Prior to them leaving, the complainant fired a shot into the air due to one of the subjects possibly being armed. The complainant gave deputies a description of the subjects and vehicle and advised them of a home that the subjects may have been trying to enter. As Deputy Stallings and McMurtry were still investigating, Lt. Silas located the vehicle and the suspects at a residence on Highway 88. After further investigation, two other suspects were located in the residence. One of the suspects told Deputy Stallings that they were attempting to steal marijuana from a residence near the incident location and that there was at least 100 pounds of marijuana inside. Lt. Silas went to the residence and verified that there was a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside and that the house had surveillance cameras. Officers notified narcotics investigators who came to the scene and executed a search warrant on the residence. Investigators located a high scale drug operation with over 65 grown marijuana plants and all of the equipment for the home to be determined a “grow house”. The operators of the residence went to great detail in making the residence a large scale drug operation. Further investigation revealed stolen property from another state as well as guns. The operation had over $150,000.00 worth of marijuana inside and was found to be probably the biggest operation ever found in this county.

Due to their quick response, attention to detail and dedication to duty, a major drug operation was shut down and stolen property was recovered. Their actions are appreciated by this office and all of Richmond County.