By By MARY-ALLISON LANCASTER Managing editor
Agents said Tuesday morning that they seized 165 marijuana plants from a father and son Friday afternoon. This is the second arrest in less than a week where marijuana plants have been seized from an area in Brewton.
Agents assisted by helicopters from the State of Alabama Eradication Programs arrested Doyle Lynn Ansley, 45, and Thomas J. Ansley, 76, both of 48 Fish Hook Road in Brewton.
Both men were being held in the Escambia County Detention Center on a $25,000 bond for each man. Doyle Ansley was released from the Escambia County Detention Center Tuesday morning. Thomas is still waiting to make his bond.
Both men were charged with unlawful distribution of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of marijuana, first degree.
According to Commander Keith Hutchins with the 21st Judicial Circuit Task Force, the two men were arrested two years ago when agents recovered about 60 plants.
Hutchins said that agents were performing a routine drug eradication fly over and spotted several marijuana plants. Agents followed a trail of plants from the woods, with patches surrounding the house leading up to the home where marijuana plants sitting at the back door.
Hutchins said that some of the plants had reached 6-feet tall, which means the men had been growing the plants for a couple of months. He added that the summer season is growing season for marijuana.
Last year, agents seized no more than 300 plants. Hutchins said they have already seized 400 this year.
The arrests were made by agents from the 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, along with investigators with the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, Alabama Bureau of Investigations and the Alabama Department of Game and Fish division.
The 21st Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force is comprised of the following law enforcement agencies: Escambia County Sheriff's Department, Atmore Police Department, East Brewton Police Department, Brewton Police Department, Flomaton Police Department, the Escambia County District Attorney's Office and the Escambia County Commission.
The Task Force receives 75 percent of its funding from a grant funded by the Bureau of Justice Affairs Division of the United States Department of Justice, and which is administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
The remainder of the funding is provided by the Escambia County Sheriff's Department, Atmore Police Department, Brewton Police Department and the Escambia County District Attorney's office.