A flyover of the county Monday uncovered nearly 300 marijuana plants near a home in the Lambeth community, Escambia County sheriff’s officials said Tuesday.
Donald Huie, 62, of Crabtree Road near Flomaton, was arrested after admitting to the cultivation of nearly 300 marijuana plants near his home.
According to Escambia County Sheriff’s officials, the plants were located and confiscated at the Crabtree Road location off Upper Creek Road in the Flomaton area by members of the 21st Judicial Drug Task Force and deputies with the Escambia County Sheriffs Department.
Huie met officers at the scene and admitted to the illegal narcotics and cultivation of the plants in his possession.
Following the execution of a search warrant at the Huie home, officers found the 300 plants spotted by aircraft personnel. The plants were believed to be marijuana in the immediate vicinity of the residents. Plants were reportedly in various stages of growth from four inches to seven feet tall.
Inside the home, officers found a small amount of marijuana along with paraphernalia. The plants and items found inside the home were taken into evidence at the scene.
Huie was arrested and charged with first-degree unlawful possession of marijuana, second-degree manufacturing and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. He was transported to the Escambia County Detention Center where he remained Tuesday awaiting a bond hearing.
Sheriff’s officials have said flying over suspected areas is a good way to help detect marijuana plants because the leaves reflect in a way that makes them easily visible from the sky.
The case remains under investigation.