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Three arrested on pot charges

Three people are in custody after authorities uprooted their marijuana-growing operation from a rural Marshall County property.

On Thursday morning, agents with the Mid-Iowa Drug Task Force served a narcotics search warrant at the property, located about 2-3 miles north of Marshalltown.

Det./Sgt. Jim Gibson with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office said authorities found evidence of marijuana and methamphetamine use and seized marijuana, marijuana plants and drug paraphernalia at the property, which included a pond and a small island where the three suspects had their operation.

Charged in the investigation were:

• Michael Weatherly, 57 of rural Conrad with manufacture/delivery and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) ; tax stamp violation; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Melissa Weatherly, 42, of rural Conrad with possession of a Schedule I controlled substance (marijuana); and possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Roger Waltemeyer, 56, of Marshalltown with manufacture/delivery and possession of a controlled substance (marijuana) ; tax stamp violation; and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to Gibson, the property’s landowners had provided fishing and camping rights to the Weatherlys, unaware of the alleged drug activity that was taking place. The couple was previously arrested this past May when authorities found roughly 70 marijuana plants at their rural Conrad residence.

All three are being held in the Marshall County Jail — Waltemeyer and Michael Weatherly both on a $5,000 cash or surety bond; Melissa Weatherly on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

Gibson said additional arrests are pending as the investigation continues.

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Contact Jeff Hutton at 641-753-6611 or jhutton@timesrepublican.com

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