Man arrested for pot growing operation

By Abby Morris
Star Staff
amorris@starhq.com
A city man was arrested early Wednesday morning after police discovered a marijuana growing operation in his apartment while they were responding to a domestic disturbance call.
Wesley Chad Heath, 21, 652 Jena Beth Drive, Apt. 14, was arrested by Elizabethton Police Department Ptl. Kelly Mullins and charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of marijuana for the purpose of resale and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to police reports, Heath's mother, Debbie Heath, called officers to her residence and told them her son was inside his apartment with his girlfriend and had a knife. She said she worried Heath might harm himself because of a fight he had with his girlfriend.
Officers found a bleeding wound on Debbie Heath's hand. She said she had been injured during a fight with her son and his girlfriend.
After police knocked on the door of the apartment, Wesley Heath answered and officers held him while they searched for his girlfriend. According to Mullins, the apartment was in disarray, indicating a struggle had taken place.
"While looking for the girlfriend, whom officers thought may be a stabbing victim, officers observed a marijuana grow project in a closet located in a baby's bedroom in Mr. Heath's apartment," Mullins said in a report.
"After officers cleared the apartment and did not find the girlfriend, a signed consent to search his apartment was obtained from Mr. Heath."
During that search, officers found 22 potted marijuana plants, four firearms, a white box containing 39 bags of marijuana and florescent lights used for growing plants. Officers also found $240 in cash, digital and mechanical scales, several pipes used for smoking marijuana, rolling papers, plastic bags containing marijuana seeds and a hardback ledger that contained documentation of drug transactions.
Wesley Heath is scheduled to appear in General Sessions Court on Feb. 2.