Shreveport Police Dept.

Date: June 1, 2007

Phone: 318/673-6932 Fax: 318/673-6933

Contact: Kacee Hargrave, Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Patrol busts marijuana operation

Shreveport Police uncovered a large marijuana growing operation in the attic of a home in the 100 block of E. Ratcliff late Thursday.

The resident, 35-year-old James Arnold, was booked into the Shreveport City Jail on charges of manufacturing, cultivating and distributing marijuana, as well as unlawful possession of prescription narcotics and having a weapon during the commission of a drug crime.

At about 3 p.m. Thursday, patrol officers requested the assistance of the Caddo-Shreveport Narcotics Task Force in getting a search warrant for the home after believing drugs were being manufactured in the residence. The warrant was the result of a traffic stop that occurred Wednesday afternoon when patrol officers found marijuana plants and seedlings.

Upon searching the home, a police K-9 found marijuana plants and about 30 to 40 pounds of harvested marijuana that had been grown and was being prepared for distribution. The value of the drugs -- including the plants and the profit that would have generated from them -- could reach as much as $200,000 to $300,000.

Officers also found a sophisticated, elaborate growing system, several weapons, drug paraphernalia and drug-making materials including the same type of fertilizer used for making bombs.

-spd-

View all SPD press releases at www.ci.shreveport.la.us/dept/police/spdnews