Welfare Check Leads To Drug Arrest

What started out as a welfare check led to the arrest of a man Blackfoot police said was growing dozens of marijuana plants in his home.

At 7:15 p.m. Monday, officers responded to an address on North University for a welfare check. The homeowner had not been seen all day, and according to the caller, that was unusual.

Officers were unable to locate the owner, James Griswold, 54, but his vehicles were at the home. Blackfoot police said they were concerned for Griswold?s safety and entered the house to find 29 marijuana plants. After finding Griswold was not inside, police got a search warrant, returned to the house, and seized the marijuana plants, which had a street value of $120,000.

Griswold returned home when the police served the search warrant. Griswold was arrested and is charged with manufacturing a controlled substance.

Griswold appeared in court Tuesday and was released on his own recognizance. He will be in court April 26.