The service of an arrest warrant on a Jones County man wanted in Bibb County resulted in the discovery of a significant stash of marijuana.
Jones County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Barron Hall said he and Lt. Wesley Ransom went to a residence on Highway 18 East June 22 to serve a Bibb County warrant on Stephen Wayne Garey for the charge of possession with intent.
Hall said, when they arrived at the property, they found the trailer where Garey was living.
“It reeked with marijuana,” he said. “We got a search warrant for the property and went back.”
The investigator said the search warrant was for the entire property, and that allowed them to look at more than the trailer. Hall said they found a building with a padlocked roll-up door also on the property. He said the entire building reeked of marijuana.
At that point the investigator said they went to the primary residence on the property and asked for a key to the padlocks on the rollup door. He said Thomas Joshua Smith, who lives in the residence, was reluctant to produce the keys.
Hall said Smith was persuaded after seeing the warrant and being informed the locks would be cut off if the keys were not produced.
“When we opened the door, marijuana was everywhere,” he said.
The investigator said there were marijuana plants, packages of marijuana and cash. He said there was no doubt the amount of packed marijuana, estimated to weigh six or seven pounds, was for more than personal use.
Hall said the evidence was seized and Smith was arrested June 28.
He said Smith’s charges include the manufacture of marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent.
