Law enforcement in Jefferson County confiscated a total of 68 marijuana plants in two separate operations this week — one in Port Townsend and the other in West Jefferson County, south of Forks.
More than 30 marijuana plants were confiscated earlier this week after Port Townsend police obtained a warrant to search a house on the 1200 block of 25th Street.
“This isn’t the largest grow operation we have dealt with, but it’s pretty significant,” Port Townsend Sgt. Ed Green said Thursday.
Richard Amacher, 39, was arrested Tuesday for investigation of intent to distribute, and taken to Jefferson County jail, Green said. Amacher was not in custody on Thursday.
Deputies with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Olympic Peninsula Narcotics Enforcement Team — or OPNET — officers confiscated 38 marijuana plants, more than three pounds of processed marijuana and more than $9,000 in cash from a residence south of Forks on Thursday, said the Sheriff’s Office.
George C. “Pete” Wilson, 57, was arrested for investigation of manufacturing marijuana and possessing marijuana with intent to deliver.
He remained in the Jefferson County jail Thursday night, with no bail set.
Law enforcement officers also found 23 firearms of varying caliber and styles at the shop and residence on Fullerton Road.
Green said that the Port Townsend police began investigating after they received several complaints from neighborhood residents saying they had seen suspicious activity that appeared to be related to narcotics.
The officers determined there was enough evidence to apply for a search warrant for the residence and subsequently contacted OPNET for its expertise in narcotics investigations and assistance with manpower and equipment.
Green said that it was impossible to judge the value or the quantity of marijuana, since it had not been harvested or processed.
The plants are now in the evidence locker at the Port Townsend Police Department.
In the West End operation, officers served a search warrant after receiving anonymous tips on the State Patrol’s marijuana grow hotline in August 2009 and last month that Wilson was growing marijuana on Fullerton Road.
The case will be forwarded to the Jefferson County Prosecutor’s Office for consideration of formal filing of charges.
Anyone with information about marijuana growing operations is asked to report it to the State Patrol Marijuana Grow Hotline at 1-800-388-4769. Callers can remain anonymous and receive cash rewards for their information.
Anyone with information about the Port Townsend incident is encouraged to phone Green at 360-531-2091.