Published: March 27, 2008 10:45 am            

B’ville PD arrest two for growing marijuana

Siezed plants would have had $15-20K street value once mature

By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor

An anonymous drug tip led to the arrest of three people in Barbourville Wednesday, two of those for growing marijuana.

Brian Centers with the Barbourville Police Department said a tip came into the Knox County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday night that Tim Napier, who had a warrant out for his arrest, was staying at a home on Hurricane Lane in Barbourville, and that possible drug activity was taking place at the house.

Officers from both agencies arrived at the house at about 1 p.m. Wednesday. In the driveway, they found Derek Smith, approximately 29 years of age, and arrested him on three outstanding failure to appear warrants.

According to Centers, the home owner, Verna Hatfield, approximately 50 years of age, then allowed officers to search her home.

In the home, officers found the man they were initially looking for — Napier, approximately 26, who was wanted on a felony warrant from Clay County for allegedly stealing $5,000 worth of copper wire.

But inside a closet, officers also found 22 small marijuana plants growing in two containers. Centers said if the plants had reached maturity, by the end of July, they would be have been worth about $15,000 to $20,000 on the street.

Hatfield was arrested on a Bell County bench warrant for failure to pay fines and a felony charge of cultivating marijuana. Napier was also charged with cultivating marijuana.

All three were taken to the Knox County Jail.

Centers was assisted at the scene by Barbourville Chief James Gray, Dec. Mike Broughton, Sgt. Kenny Williamson and Knox County Sheriff John Pickard.

He said both agencies have been working together by sharing information and providing assistance and security at crime scenes.

        

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