The Darke County Prosecutor’s Office now has the task of reviewing the seizure of 250 mature marijuana plants, worth an estimated $250,000, found Thursday morning on four plots of a property near Arcanum.

No arrests were made during the seizure at 3938 Red River West Grove Road, where sheriff’s deputies went on a tip about suspicious drug activity, Chief Deputy Mark Whittaker said Thursday afternoon.

Deputies arrived at about 1:39 a.m. and saw from the road what appeared to be numerous marijuana plants growing in the yard.

They approached the property on foot to investigate further when they were met by the resident — armed with a shotgun, the sheriff’s office said late Thursday afternoon. Deputies identified themselves and the resident immediately cooperated and disarmed himself.

Two adults — a mother and son — live at the address and consented to a search of the property.

That search by deputies recovered 250 mature marijuana plants that ranged in size from 5 feet to 10 feet in height. There was evidence also indicating that some harvesting and processing had occurred. The plants were located in four plots on the property and “less than marginal attempts were used to conceal them,” according to the sheriff’s office. Each plant is valued at $1,000, the sheriff’s office said.

The size and number of plants caused the sheriff’s office to enlist one dump truck from the county garage and another from the county engineer’s office to haul away the plants. The Greenville Fire Department provided a ladder truck that was used to help document the scene from the air through photographs.

Charges or indictments are pending the review of the case by the prosecutor’s office. It is likely that felony charges of illegal cultivation of/and or drug possession will result from the review, according to the sheriff’s office. The level of felony will be determined by the weight of the illegal substance. A tally of the weight is pending, but estimates are expected to be in the hundreds of pounds, the sheriff’s office said.

Anyone who observes suspicious or criminal activity is asked to report it immediately to the sheriff’s office or local law enforcement agency.