Two 20-year old Albany men were arrested after police found a marijuana garden hidden in a clearing at the end of a 75-foot tunnel cut through blackberry briars in an undeveloped, overgrown field in southwest Albany, Oregon.
According to a news release issued by Albany Police, officers received a report that three men were walking into the field carrying backpacks shortly before 10 a.m. on Wednesday morning. Investigating officers detained the men, and with the assistance of a police dog, searched the field and eventually discovered the growing operation.
22 marijuana plants were discovered at the end of a 75-foot tunnel cut into blackberry briars in southwest Albany. (left inset: Rick Olson. right inset: Sean Adams - LCJ & APD photos)
The narrow tunnel cut into the briars opened up into a clearly about 20-feet by 10-feet, police said, where 22 potted plants between one- and three-feet tall were found. Water jugs, fertilizer, pruning shears, potting soil, insect spray, a lantern and camouflage netting were also discovered, the release stated.
On Thursday, a search warrant was executed at the home of two of the three men: Rick Allen Olson and Sean Duane Adams, who live at 1361 SE 27th Avenue. During the raid, detectives seized less than one ounce of marijuana, weight scales, packaging material, cash, and a rifle.
18-year-old Alisha Lynn Willsey, also a resident at the SE 27th Avenue address, was cited for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.
Olson and Adams were lodged in the Linn County Jail and are charged with possession, manufacture, and delivery of marijuana. The third male who was detained near the marijuana garden was interviewed and released, police said.