| Columbia County Sheriff's Office |
David W. Harrison, Jr., SHERIFF James R. Sweet, UNDERSHERIFF
| Copyright ©2006 Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Hudson, NY 12534 |
MARIJUANA ERADICATION EFFORT
September 21, 2010
Columbia County, NY - Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that on September 16 & 17th, the Sheriff’s Office Drug
Education and Enforcement Unit, (DEEU), conducted a marijuana eradication operation with air support from the
Massachusetts Army National Guard Aviation Counter Drug Unit in Westfield, MA. Nearly 200 marijuana plants
were seized by Sheriff’s Investigators and uniformed Deputy Sheriffs over the two day period.
A helicopter, its flight crew and one Deputy Sheriff flew over several towns within the county. As marijuana
plants were observed from the air they were seized by Deputy Sheriffs on the ground. The Sheriff said that two
people have been arrested and charged with Unlawfully Growing Cannabis, a class A Misdemeanor under the
Public Health Law.
Betty Engstrom, 73 years old of State Route 203, Ghent, NY, was arrested when she was observed at the
scene were plants were being grown on Route 203 and she was also in possession of marijuana that she had just
harvested. Engstrom was released with an appearance ticket directing her to appear in the Ghent Town Court
October 4th @ 7:00pm.
Also arrested was 68 year old Patti Link of County Route 7, Copake, NY who was growing marijuana on her
property. Link will appear in the Copake Town Court October 4th to answer her charge.
The seizures and arrests are the result of many tips from Columbia County residents and the hard work of
DEEU Investigators and uniformed Deputy Sheriffs. The plants seized in this operation have a sales value of
$200,000.00 depending on how it is processed and packaged.
The Sheriff reminds anyone who has information about criminal or suspicious activity to call the Sheriff’s
Office CRIME TIPS line 518-822-TIPS(8477) or visit the Sheriff’s Office website at www.columbiacountysheriff.us .
September 21, 2010
Columbia County, NY - Sheriff David Harrison, Jr. reports that on September 16 & 17th, the Sheriff’s Office Drug
Education and Enforcement Unit, (DEEU), conducted a marijuana eradication operation with air support from the
Massachusetts Army National Guard Aviation Counter Drug Unit in Westfield, MA. Nearly 200 marijuana plants
were seized by Sheriff’s Investigators and uniformed Deputy Sheriffs over the two day period.
A helicopter, its flight crew and one Deputy Sheriff flew over several towns within the county. As marijuana
plants were observed from the air they were seized by Deputy Sheriffs on the ground. The Sheriff said that two
people have been arrested and charged with Unlawfully Growing Cannabis, a class A Misdemeanor under the
Public Health Law.
Betty Engstrom, 73 years old of State Route 203, Ghent, NY, was arrested when she was observed at the
scene were plants were being grown on Route 203 and she was also in possession of marijuana that she had just
harvested. Engstrom was released with an appearance ticket directing her to appear in the Ghent Town Court
October 4th @ 7:00pm.
Also arrested was 68 year old Patti Link of County Route 7, Copake, NY who was growing marijuana on her
property. Link will appear in the Copake Town Court October 4th to answer her charge.
The seizures and arrests are the result of many tips from Columbia County residents and the hard work of
DEEU Investigators and uniformed Deputy Sheriffs. The plants seized in this operation have a sales value of
$200,000.00 depending on how it is processed and packaged.
The Sheriff reminds anyone who has information about criminal or suspicious activity to call the Sheriff’s
Office CRIME TIPS line 518-822-TIPS(8477) or visit the Sheriff’s Office website at www.columbiacountysheriff.us .