Drug force confiscates marijuana, 81 firearms

A marijuana field was spotted during a flyover.
NEWTON FALLS -- A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 11 a.m. Aug. 31 in municipal court for a 47-year-old man who authorities say had $450,000 worth of marijuana and 81 firearms in his possession.
Lloyd R. Karr, of 7349 Girdle Road, West Farmington, appeared Thursday before acting Judge Steven Maas on charges of drug trafficking, cultivation of marijuana and drug abuse.
He was released after posting a total $175,000 personal and surety bonds.
Jeffrey Orr, commander of the Trumbull, Ashtabula, Geauga Law Enforcement Task Force, said his command, along with Trumbull County law enforcement officers, the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and the Ohio State Highway Patrol were conducting aerial marijuana eradication operations in Trumbull and Ashtabula counties Tuesday.
During the flyover, Orr said, a small field of marijuana was spotted behind Karr's residence.
Wednesday, officials found 30 marijuana plants in five-gallon buckets along with a watering hose leading to a pond on the property.
Orr said a search the same day at Karr's residence led to 81 firearms, including pistols, shotguns, rifles, muzzleloaders and semi-automatic rifles.
Orr said checks are being run on the guns to determine if they were stolen. If so, charges will be filed. He noted that they were confiscated because they allegedly were purchased with illegal drug money.
Orr alleged that Karr was using the sale of marijuana to purchase the firearms for his collection.
Also found were 233 pounds of processed marijuana, drug paraphernalia, ammunition and $18,170 cash.
Another case
Also Thursday, William S. Bradley, 24, of 517 Bunker Hill Road, Ashtabula, was arraigned on charges stemming from another TAG operation.
Bradley appeared before Judge Albert Camplese in Ashtabula Municipal Court. Bond was set at a total $40,500 cash or surety.
He faces charges of trafficking and possession of cocaine, possession of drug abuse instruments and cultivating marijuana.
During the execution of a search warrant July 6 at the house Bradley rents, police confiscated 17 marijuana plants, cocaine, marijuana, scales, packaging equipment and $7,380 cash.
Bradley wasn't arrested until Wednesday after authorities received laboratory tests results of the narcotics, Orr said.