According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), four of ArizonaÂ’s six national forests, Coconino, Kaibab, Prescott and Tonto have been involved in marijuana plant eradication since 2004. The majority of those eradications occurred on two sites in Coconino National Forest, for a total of 19,982 plants and 13 sites in Tonto National Forest for a total of 132,047 plants. From 2004 through Oct. 23, 2006, a total of 18 sites and 155,591 plants have been eradicated in the program.Last Wednesday a hiker in Tonto National Forest in the Mt. Peeley/Deer Creek/201 Road area found and reported the site as an abandoned pot farm. On Sunday, forest service law enforcement officers were performing a marijuana eradication operation at the site when they encountered four armed suspects. One of the suspects pointed a loaded rifle at one of the law enforcement officers, who responded by firing at the suspect three times.
| “ One of the suspects pointed a loaded rifle at one of the law enforcement officers, who responded by firing at the suspect three times ” |
| That's too bad. He should be in the boneyard. |
The eradication operation, where the shooting incident occurred, involved 3,100 plants, covering approximately four acres. However, more plants have since been discovered and the operation continues.