Marijuana operation discovered following Patrol traffic stop

The Ohio State Highway Patrol, in conjunction with the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office, seized 554 marijuana plants with an estimated street value of  more than $550,000, following a traffic stop Saturday, March 26.

Troopers stopped a 1990 Volkswagen Jetta for a front license plate violation on state Route 4 in Mechanicsburg at approximately 6:23 p.m. on March 26. The trooper observed a glass jar containing marijuana on the floorboard of the passenger side, as well as potting soil and other cultivation tools on the rear seat. The driver admitted to the possession and was detained. A deputy from the Champaign
County Sheriff’s Office arrived and a search of the driver’s residence was later conducted. The search of the Mechanicsburg residence yielded 554 marijuana plants from a fully equipped growing operation on the second floor of the home.

The Patrol and the Sheriff’s Office are working with the Champaign County Prosecutor’s Office to present the case to a grand jury. The seized
plants have been forwarded to the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation crime lab for weight and analysis before presentation to the grand jury. The driver’s name will not be released until formal charges are filed.

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