The West Frankfort Police Department wrapped up an investigation over the holiday weekend that ended in the drug-related arrest of a West Frankfort resident, originally from Urbana, Illinois.
The investigation surrounded the residence located at 1201 E. Clark Street, which was rented by Justin W. Linden, 25. According to a press release by the WFPD Chief of Police Jeff Tharp, Linden had fled from Champaign County, where he was wanted on drug-related charges, and located the rental property via the internet on Craig's List, a classified ad-style website.
Once moving to residence in West Frankfort, Linden began to mirror a marijuana cultivating operation that he had allegedly begun in Champaign County.
Inside Linden's residence, officers found many items of equipment consistent with a marijuana growing operation, including lighting systems used to accelerate the growth of plants and numerous other electronic accessories. Linden had also been utilizing a moderate ventilation system which is used to provide quality atmospheric conditions and mask the odor of growing marijuana. At a later stage in the process, the atmospheric conditions are used to dry the marijuana to a state suitable for introduction to the body, according to the release.
Officers also seized mature marijuana plants from inside Linden's residence. Tharp referred to two of the plants as "mother plants." These are valued as supply plants because clippings from these plants can be used to start new plants.
Linden was arrested and taken to Franklin County Jail on charges of unlawful possession of cannabis, possession of cannabis with intent to sell, production of cannabis and a Champaign County warrant.
"The recent rib fundraiser that the department conducted to raise funding for extensive narcotics enforcement has greatly enhanced our ability to eradicate this type of criminal behavior from our community," said Tharp. "This type of activity punctuates our need for a concentrated effort against these crimes."
