A large quantity of marijuana was found growing in Banks County this week. Shown at the site, on Hwy. 59, are Sheriff Charles Chapman (left), Jo-Jo, the drug dog, and Cpl. Mike Wood.

Marijuana found in county

Posted by
Staff Writer
in Public Safety
Wednesday, August 26. 2009
Comments (8)
A work crew clearing land leased by a hunting club on Hwy. 59 found suspected marijuana. The Banks County Sheriff’s Office was called in and a large amount of marijuana was found growing at the site.
On Tuesday, deputies from the sheriff’s office were called to the land which is leased by a hunting club. No one was on the property when the deputies arrived.

Deputies found a camp site on the property that is believed to have been used by the people growing the marijuana. The tents were set up in a well-wooded area. Groceries and other equipment were found at the camp site.

“There was two different plots where marijuana was growing,” Sheriff Charles Chapman said. “Both plots were irrigated well with a sprinkler system with water being pumped from a swamp by a gasoline pump.”

Deputies and an off-duty state trooper pulled 1,200 plans and recovered 50 pounds of marijuana that had been laid out to dry. All these marijuana plants were hybrid plants which grow year-round.

“The operation was a multi-million dollar operation,” Chapman said. “Based on what a plant will produce, the plants found would have been worth over $1.5 million.”

A Georgia State Patrol helicopter was called to do a fly-over the area to see if any more plots could be located. Agents from the GBI were also called to assist in processing the scene.

While the helicopter was in the area, a fly-over was conducted in another area and another 80 plants were found growing in the northern part of the county. Deputies cut these plants, which were 10 to 15 feet tall. These plants were located in a rural area off Boling Road.

Deputies worked several hours in both locations gathering the marijuana.

The Banks County Sheriff’s Office’s criminal investigation narcotics agents are continuing to investigate this.

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#1 badtaste on 09/10/09 at 06:23 AM [Reply]
Well, I hope this 'bust' will keep them busy enough to leave the children (busting in on them like they're mafia) and old men (whoever hit Charlie during his probation violation of 5 years ago bust will deal with our heavenly father). That man is so old and has had a stroke, can't use one arm. I wonder what vicious act he performed in his living room that caused him to be hit by the police before abscounding the dangerous individual. His grown son intervened and now he is sitting in jail with his dad. I know the officers put their life on the line for us and they're heros and all that but this ain't Iraq. Those on the outside would be surprised by the bumped up charges and the actual bullying by certain detectives and officers. Maybe they could make a Andy Griffeth type TV series and call it what 'The Chapman Cheats'? As a law abiding person I have seen enough to be more afraid of the police than the marijuana. They will arrest you for anything, turn it into a felony by morning,and then it's your problem to spend the time, money, agrravation to wait for them to drop the charges in the end. Oh yea, and don't forget charging EVERYBODY with a felony until the only criminal in the crowd pleas out. Lazy tactics to bully the locals. I pray for the County as I do all our officials daily. I don't know everything and Banks is a big county but what I've experienced from acquaintances first hand and having raised my children here - I'm more afraid of the police then the criminals. So I guess their job is done, huh?

I'm glad this stuff is out of our county 'thanks to the hunters' and that our best made it to the photo shoot in time. He usually does.
#1.1 BETTER TASTE on 09/17/09 at 01:55 PM [Reply]
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
#1.1.1 crooked sheriffs office on 10/20/09 at 06:58 PM [Reply]
He is talking about our barney 5 sheriffs office that is made up of small town he said she said politics everyone is fed up with it!! If you try to help out and they dont like it you get punished if you dont help you get punished so what do you do!! The whole department is a joke!! compare them to habersham or hall county it is sad that we have such under quailified officers,investigators,and last a sheriff that doesn't know what the hell he is doing!!! That is what we the people of Banks county are saying!!
#1.1.1.1 grandma on 11/06/09 at 04:48 PM [Reply]
I wish people would look at them selves before they bad mouth someone else. We are lucky to have a sheriff as good as ours. And the people that is bad mouthing him dont know him and the good he has done for all of us. And his officers that go out and do there job I wouldnt want to put up with the things they have to go thought every day. To all you bad mouthing people wonder whos the first person you would call if you need help. Think about that...I thank you Sheriff and your officers for the well job you are doing. Thank you again and may God keep you all safe. As for as these Bad Mouthing People God Bless them to because they dont know any better.
#2 what's Up on 10/21/09 at 02:18 PM [Reply]
Wonder what the dog did to get in the pic.Do U think the Sheriff's Office could have set up and watched this area for a couple of days and caught the folks who were growing the weed? Nah would have been to simple Just get the old sheriff's pic in the paper. It's amazing he left the new Banks County annex biulding long enough to get to the photo shoot!
#3 Homer Man on 10/22/09 at 12:54 PM [Reply]
One child severly burnt, three others injured in a wreck on grove level road !! I bet that dont make the news cause the guy that pulled them out of the burning car was a resigned vol. and he sufferer first and second degree burns pulling the kids from the car !!
#4 Come on People - on 10/22/09 at 01:47 PM [Reply]
At least the sheriff got his picture in the paper. Barney always did like publicity. And Chapman, an Andy he ain't!! Now, I would like to know the outcome of some death investigations that are mum - the woman found in the trunk of a car on Hwy 64 - The foot found off Russel Rumsey Road - Has the paper forgotten these?
#5 makeuprulesaswego on 11/06/09 at 06:08 PM [Reply]
as each day passes it gets clearer and clearer
BCSO operate as if they are above the laws of local and state legislator, just disregard the rules and laws that we are held accountable under.forget the procedures layed out under prodocals. close your eyes of you want, but, just dont be surprised of you are not the next one BCSO throws under the bus in order to keep looking untarnished and b the book. yea, right
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