Published: August 11, 2008 09:42 pm      

Bear kill leads to pot bust in McDowell

WELCH — An illegal bear kill led to a pot bust over the weekend in McDowell County, police said.

Troopers with the West Virginia State Police Welch Detachment and officers with the Department of Natural Resources were dispatched to a report of a bear being shot in the Havaco community Sunday around 3 p.m., Trooper M.S. Horton said.

Reports indicate the individual who killed the bear allegedly transported it to his residence, Sgt. D.W. Miller said.

When state police troopers and DNR officers “went to the house to look for the bear, that’s when they found the marijuana,” Miller said.

The exact number of marijuana plants discovered was unknown, but Miller said he believed it was a couple of small plants in flower pots.

A small quantity of marijuana was recovered from the scene, and three individuals were arrested on cultivation charges, Horton said.

Horton said the incident was investigated by Trooper J.W. Keffer, Trooper B.A. Wood and Trooper K.L. Pack.

Additional charges are pending in the case with the DNR concerning the illegal shooting of the bear.

It is illegal to kill a bear out of season. “It’s definitely a crime to shoot a bear this time of year,” Miller said.

Neither Keffer, Wood or Pack were available Monday for comment on the investigation. Further details were not immediately available.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com