Highway patrol reports good year for marijuana crop in Southeast Missouri

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol's local marijuana eradication team have seized about 7,000 suspected marijuana plants this summer, including nearly 40 found growing on a Dunklin County ditch bank.

The 38 suspected marijuana plants were found during an "eradication flight" growing on a ditch bank, about a mile off the St. Francis River in the Campbell area, said trooper B.R. Arnold.

Officers, he said, set up cameras and taped a man, identified as Ronald J. Baggett, on several occasions tending to the plants.

Arnold described the plants as being "good plants, really good. ... They liked probably another 15 to 20 days of having been ready to complete the harvest."

Arnold said officers closed the investigation Friday.

"We already knew who he was," Arnold said. It was a matter of "how much more evidence we wanted to compile. Because the eradication season is ending for us, we had to go ahead and wrap it up."

Baggett was contacted at his Qulin residence and was found to be in possession of about one pound of suspected processed marijuana, Arnold said.

Baggett was arrested at 10:13 a.m. Friday on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) in Butler County and cultivation of marijuana in Dunklin County. He was booked at the Butler County jail and later released pending review of the case by the prosecuting attorney.

According to Arnold, this has been a really good year. The wet weather has really helped out and alleged growers have not had to water their plants as much, he said.

"We've had a very successful season," Arnold said. "We've seized a little less than 7,000 plants [with] more to go get in the next couple of days."

The plants, Arnold said, have been seized by eradication team members all over Troop E.

"I've made cases in counties where I've never made cases before," Arnold said. "We ended up with 18 felony charges and the arrest of 10 different people with hopes of a couple more."

In previous years, Arnold said, he usually spends November flying every day.

Since the eradication season has been cut short, "I didn't get to cover everything I wanted to," said Arnold, who encouraged anyone with tips or information about suspected marijuana to call 1-800-BAD-WEED.