When a Red Level police officer drove past a Main Street home Wednesday, he couldn’t believe his eyes when he spotted four marijuana plants growing in James Andrew Aught-man’s front yard.

Unfortunately for the 45-year-old Aughtman, the part time police officer is also the fulltime Drug Task Force commander Mark Odom.

Odom said the plants were found growing about five feet from the edge of the pavement.

Once the plants were recovered, Odom said he and other DTF agents went to Aughtman’s home and arrested him for first-degree possession of marijuana.

“I’ve been in law enforcement for almost 20 years and most of that time has been spent working narcotics,” Odom said. “I’ve been involved in hundreds of cases involving the cultivation of marijuana, but never have I seen any growing right beside a main roadway.”

Odom said this is marijuana-growing season and those illegal gardeners should be conscious their activity is being reported.

“We, along with ABI Narcotics, and District 8 Alabama Beverage Control Board, are already receiving numerous tips about possible ‘patches,’” he said. “Marijuana is often considered more acceptable than other narcotics, but we at the DTF don’t feel that way. We’ve already seized some marijuana growers in the past couple months and will continue to seek them out throughout the remainder of the summer.”

DTF would like to encourage any one with information regarding suspected marijuana patches, or any other illegal drug activity, to contact their office at (334) 222-3532.