What started out as an Emergency Protection Order inquiry turned into a huge marijuana haul Monday night in Salyersville.
The Magoffin County Sheriff’s Department was in route to the Coal Branch residence of Terry A. Burchett regarding an EPO when they encountered a vehicle with expired tags driven by Jonathan T. Deaton.
According to a police report, a stop of the vehicle revealed the driver had bloodshot eyes and dilated pupils, which led to a field sobriety test that he reportedly failed.
Deaton, according to police, had a strong smell of marijuana and said he had just left the Burchett residence.
Deaton, 20, of Paintsville, was arrested on a DUI charge, which led to one count each of disorderly conduct and menacing after police said he “got very loud and was cursing after being placed under arrest”.
Police continued on to their original destination, knocked on the door of the trailer Burchett was renting, detected a strong smell of marijuana, and then heard what they said was someone running around inside the residence.
After entering the trailer, police found Burchett headed toward the bathroom. They also encountered another marijuana odor, this time coming from a bedroom with a plastic covered doorway.
Burchett stopped when asked by police why he was running and was later arrested after law enforcement found a complicated pot growing operation behind the plastic door.
Timed heating and watering systems, video surveillance equipment, and still photography equipment were found, along with 54 marijuana plants ranging from one to three feet in height.
A mature marijuana plant carries a street value of around $2,500, but Magoffin County Sheriff Bob Jordan says the plants confiscated late Monday night were of a higher than normal quality and would have carried a much higher price tag when fully grown.
Burchett, 49, originally from California, was charged with cultivating marijuana five plants or more, which is a felony.
Deaton was also charged with cultivation, along with receiving vehicle registration tickets and one for not possessing his driver’s license.
Sheriff’s deputies Josh Pease and Darvin Marsilett, along with Salyersville Police Chief Matthew Watson, assisted at the scene.
Robbie Conley and Carter Conley, with the Magoffin County Rescue Squad, transported the plants and growing equipment from the scene to sheriff’s department headquarters.

BRINGING IN THE KILL…Magoffin County sheriff Bob Jordan displayed the 54 marijuana plants his department found on Coal Branch Monday night. Two people were arrested in the bust. Jordan said the clone plants were of high quality and more valuable at full maturity than the more common marijuana plants grown outdoors.