ALTO—An Alto man is behind bars after authorities say he tried to cut down and dispose of marijuana plants while authorities were searching for pot growers from a helicopter.
Mitchell Posey, Special Agent in Charge for the Appalachian Regional Drug Enforcement Office, said Leroy Gragg, 48, was taken into custody Thursday.
"Gragg either saw us responding or—most likely—saw the helicopter and actually cut the plants down and tried to hide them," said Posey.
Gragg had been the subject of complaints from neighbors, Posey said, who suspected he was growing pot. That information is what sparked the search effort.
"We were able to find (the plants) once we got there to his house," said Posey.
The three plants reportedly held a street value of $13,500.
Posey said that—other than trying to hide evidence—Gragg came into custody without incident.