We used to find marijuana pretty regularly while surveying. My policy was to notify the client. If they wanted us to keep quiet, fine. If they wanted us to report it to law enforcement we would, even take a deputy and show him. We came upon the remnants of what appears to have been a meth lab a few weeks ago. Before I could notify the client the next day I received some anonomous threats to keep my mouth shut. I feel like we're dealing with a completely different kind of person than the average pot grower. These guy seem more dangerous. It takes a coward to threaten anonomously. A coward that might not be afraid to go after family or burn a house.
What is your policy?
I did report it to the client. I wouldn't go to law enforcement though. They'd probably put it in the paper that a surveyor reported it.
You could report it anonymously to police.
Please be very careful, Stacy, whatever you decide.
Meth dehumanizes people, it makes them dangerous and stupid.
Don
Man, that's tough
It makes you want to know how Mr. Anonymous knew to harrass you. That's the scary part. People stupid enough to do what they're doing don't have enough brain cells left to keep them from doing harm to others. What's to keep someone else from stumbling onto the same thing, reporting it, and then you being the one the idiot assumes told the cops.
I reported it to the client (a realtor). As far as I'm concerned, its up to him if it goes to law enforcement. I was never afraid about pot grows. Those guys seem to be laid back and stay away if the grow is discovered. You're correct about the meth-heads. They would likely do something stupid or cowardly.
Man, that's tough
What we found was a burned up camper with barrels, buckets, chemicals and all the earmarks of an old lab. My best guess is they have another lab nearby and don't want anyone snooping around. Its very possible that they were watching us. Not hard to figure out my identity when in the company truck. As soon as we suspected what we found, the conceal carry weapons were taken with us. I worry about one of those crazies going after my wife and kids or trying to burn the house/office down.
> I was never afraid about pot grows.
I think that situation has changed dramatically, at least in some parts of the country. I've read that out-of-country operators have taken over a substantial part of the industry, and that it's not uncommon for them to station a foreign national, armed and with instructions to shoot, at or near the grow. I think I'd err on the side of caution.
True enough. Though we haven't seen that here yet. The pot growers are usually a few stoned rednecks that would rather run. Years ago the moonshiners weren't to be messed with. Haven't seen a still in years. We see fewer and fewer pot grows now. I guess its obvious what the next trend is.
> I guess its obvious what the next trend is.
If your area is just entering its meth phase, my condolences and fasten your seat belt. (Lock up all your valuables, too!) It's an ugly phenomenon for all involved.
If it came to threats against my family, I'd probably give serious thought to a permanent solution to alleviate that threat. A solution that involves camo, stealth, and patience.
Man, that's tough
"I think I'd err on the side of caution." I'm afraid that's
good advice in this scenario. You've got too much invested in your
family. More than likely, they'll self destruct (sadly) if they're
using it themselves.
I would be concerned that the realtor may not disclose anything for fear of holding up the sale and and if I had concerns about notifying the police I would not talk about it with my full name on a open forum.
Our law enforcement officer at Jackson State Forest told us to watch for piles of bean cans. That is a sign of a camp. They camp in the state forest and grow in clear cuts on private land.
Listen to Jim.
Don't think you're on the cutting edge of illegal activity.
Meth users are dangerous. Period.
Gang - owned patches are worse than dangerous.
Why don't you have a relationship with local law enforcement? It's just good practice.
Stay alive.
Before I could notify the client the next day I received some anonymous threats to keep my mouth shut.
You should report these threats.
By notifying the realtor, don't you think your situation was exposed.
If they report to the authorities, aren't they gong to say that S.C., the surveyor told me about it.
If they do a follow up, they are going to be at your door.
Your in a tough spot. Maybe the thing to do would have been doing and end run around the local authorities and give a anon documented tip to the state police and/or DEA. Sometimes, there are task forces that have been formed to deal with this problem.
They are the ones that like to nail the boots to the wall of these types with out all of the local media getting involved.
> tip to the state police and/or DEA. Sometimes, there are task forces that have been formed to deal with this problem.
> They are the ones that like to nail the boots to the wall of these types with out all of the local media getting involved.
:good:
I imagine you are in a very tough position. From the comfort of my office chair, I can very easily say - report it.
Of course I did not receive an anonymous threat. It is not my name that is known to the criminals. So of course it is easy to tell you that the 'right' thing to do is report it.
What I think of as right and wrong might not change based on if I had received the anonymous threat. What my actions were might. I can't say without actually facing the same situation.
Again, from the comfort and safety of my office, I would be thinking -
I am aware of illegal activity. Am I morally or ethically bound to report it?
I have either been very fortunate or too naive to have noticed any pot growing or meth manufacturing on properties I have surveyed.
About a dozen years ago a family friend of mine, a very upstanding guy, stepped outside to break up a fight across the street between some teenagers. One of the kids pulled a gun, shot and killed him. He was doing the right thing in a situation that didn't really concern him.
Today when I see something going on that is illegal, I ask the question "what's in it for me to get involved?" Perhaps that makes me a coward, my answer is often not the most moral answer, but I believe it is the most realistic. There used to be a time when doing the right thing was a good decision, today criminals are more violent and careless. There are people in this world today who have NO regard for your loved ones or you. I would tread carefully and realize your concerns are legitimate.
Those meth users will destroy themselves eventually and get caught, putting your family at risk will only expedite their end. I don't see any reason to endanger your loved ones.
Here's the strange ending. I won't get into many details here. I waited weeks to post this. The property sold, the garbage was cleaned up and all is now well with that area. I learned over the years that in these parts you don't put your life in the hands of law enforcement. The coward was exposed and fled the area. The "good ole boys" around here don't tolerate cowardly acts/threats. From what i was told, he made the threat more to keep the land from selling than because of the remnants of a lab.
No one ever really said what their policy is in a situation like this. So?
Edited. Didn't know you were protected by the Copperhead Road Moonshiner's Auxiliary.
