Police raid marijuana crops in Cedar City, West Valley

Police raided a crop of about 3,000 marijuana plants in a canyon just south of Cedar City early Wednesday morning

As marijuana growers begin to harvest, the bust could be one of many over the next two months, drug officials said.

Hunters stumbled across the crop Friday and alerted police, said Iron County Sheriff Mark Gower.

About 4 a.m. Wednesday, police raided the area and destroyed the plants, which were 3 to 6 feet tall, he said. Gower said local and federal narcotics officers have a possible suspect and were following up on leads Wednesday.

The bust comes a day after DEA agents and local police broke up a low-level growing operation in a West Valley City home.

Drug agents served a no-knock search warrant early Tuesday at a house near 3600 South and 6600 West. Inside, they found 78 pot plants — some 3 to 4 feet tall — two pounds of processed marijuana and eight weapons, said DEA spokesman Michael Root.

"This was a low-level operation," he said.

Richard Wimmer, 58, was arrested for investigation of marijuana cultivation and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Detectives had been investigating Wimmer for two weeks based on a tip from the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Wimmer was growing marijuana in his basement and in a garage, Root said. His criminal history includes prior arrests for drug possession and distribution. Police raided a crop of about 3,000 marijuana plants in a canyon just south of Cedar City early Wednesday morning

As marijuana growers begin to harvest, the bust could be one of many over the next two months, drug officials said.

Hunters stumbled across the crop Friday and alerted police, said Iron County Sheriff Mark Gower.

About 4 a.m. Wednesday, police raided the area and destroyed the plants, which were 3 to 6 feet tall, he said. Gower said local and federal narcotics officers have a possible suspect and were following up on leads Wednesday.

The bust comes a day after DEA agents and local police broke up a low-level growing operation in a West Valley City home.

Drug agents served a no-knock search warrant early Tuesday at a house near 3600 South and 6600 West. Inside, they found 78 pot plants — some 3 to 4 feet tall — two pounds of processed marijuana and eight weapons, said DEA spokesman Michael Root.

"This was a low-level operation," he said.

Richard Wimmer, 58, was arrested for investigation of marijuana cultivation and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Detectives had been investigating Wimmer for two weeks based on a tip from the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Wimmer was growing marijuana in his basement and in a garage, Root said. His criminal history includes prior arrests for drug possession and distribution.

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