HCSO busts marijuana grow operation

A Greenfield area man was arrested Thursday after the Highland County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant at his Madison Township home, discovering multiple marijuana plants. 

According to Highland County Sheriff Ron Ward, the search warrant was served at the home on Taylor Street just after noon on Thursday. 

"It was just outside Greenfield in the area of Higginsville in Madison Township," Ward said. "The search warrant was the result of an investigation into a possible marijuana grow operation."

Ward said that when deputies and detectives entered the property, they allegedly discovered small plants outside the home "and 24 containers that contained indoor plants." 

The resident, Brenton E. Belcher, 42, was at home when the warrant was served and allegedly started pulling up the plants in an alleged attempt to conceal them, according to Ward.

Belcher was taken into custody and charged with tampering with evidence. He is currently being held at the Highland County Justice Center on a $35,000 bond. 

Ward said that evidence located at the scene will be forwarded to the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation. It is anticipated that the case will be presented to an upcoming session of a grand jury in Highland County Common Pleas Court, where additional charges are possible.