Friday, deputies with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department recovered more than 100 marijuana plants, which were discovered while responding to an assault complaint.
On July 10 at about 1 p.m., deputies were dispatched to a location in Nicholson in reference to an assault, Pearl River County Sheriff David Allison said.
During the course of that investigation, deputies received information that two of the individuals involved in the assault were manufacturing marijuana in their residence, Allison said.
The suspects were identified as 53-year-old Michael Bruner and 48-year-old Tonya Smith both of 118 Billy Smith Rd., Nicholson, Allison said.
A deputy drove to that address to speak with the suspects about their involvement in the assault, Allison said.
Upon arrival, the deputy knocked on the front door and heard noises coming from inside, Allison said. No one responded to the deputy’s knock on the door, Allison said.
While walking around the residence to the back door, the deputy smelled a strong odor, believed to be marijuana, coming from the air conditioning unit in the window of the home, Allison.
At that point, Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department narcotics detectives were called to the address, Allison said. They also noticed the smell of marijuana, he said.
The narcotics detectives obtained a search warrant and during its execution the detectives discovered 122 marijuana plants in a bedroom, numerous grow and heat lights and a large quantity of items used for manufacturing marijuana, Allison said.
In another bedroom, narcotics detectives discovered three glass containers with marijuana inside, Allison said.
Both were charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, Allison said.
Since their arrest, the suspects were released on a $5,000 bond each, Allison said.