Officials refuse reward for bow hunters who spotted marijuana farm
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) — Mike Gambrell thinks he and a buddy should get a reward for reporting a marijuana farm while out bow hunting. But that's not how officials see it.
Gambrell said four men came after him and his friend with rifles after they spotted the plants. The pair said they used a walkie-talkie to alert a friend, who called 911 on his cellular telephone.
Gambrell said he later learned of a hot line offering up to $5,000 for tips leading to the seizure of marijuana, but was denied any money. Officials said tips have to be phoned into a special 1-800 line, not 911.
"To have guys chasing you with firearms, I mean, we should get something out of this deal," Gambrell said. "The people running this program, they just don't want to give up the money. It's a joke."
Capt. Mark Couey said a tipster must call the hot line before alerting any other law enforcement agency and then call back within two weeks. "I feel for him, but this program is designed specifically to entice people who would not otherwise normally come forward."
State troopers and county sheriff's deputies seized 1,079 marijuana plants but found no one to arrest.