Cops Mistake Okra Bust - The police in the State of Georgia raided the home of a retired citizen last week with full force on suspicion that he was growing marijuana, only to discover that it was an okra farm.
The raid, which occurred in the early hours of Wed Oct. 2nd, is reported to have been inspired by the sighting of marijuana-like plants growing behind a home in Cartersville, Bartow County, by a helicopter from the Governor's drug task force. The police reportedly descended on the home of Dwayne Perry with both a helicopter and a K9 unit for what has been described as an 'okra bust.'
The suspect in question, who was reportedly scared at the presence of law enforcement officials on his property, noted that "They were strapped to the gills." Mr. Perry has explained that an okra leaf is significantly different from that of a marijuana plant as they have different number of leaflets - five and seven to thirteen respectively. Okra, which is also known as ladies' fingers, is widely used in dishes in many part of the world including in the southern areas of America. However, it is not common to most parts of the country.
Mr. Perry told WSB that "It ain't right" for the cops to come to his home fully "strapped with weapons for no reason" despite the fact that he is a law-abiding citizen. "Anything could have happened," he explains. Reports indicate that the retiree has been getting calls from his acquaintances about the 'okra bust' and he has expressed concerns that his reputation could be affected negatively by the incident.
Meanwhile, the local police have extended an apology to Mr. Perry and his neighbors. The state patrol captain Kermit Stokes is quoted saying "If we disturbed them in any manner, that's not our intent. Our intent is to go out and do our job and do it to the best of our ability."
Despite widespread support for the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana, Georgian authorities have not made any moves in that direction. State Representative Allen Peake has noted in the past that the people of the state "are only ready for cannabis for medicinal purposes," and "do not want to become Colorado."
Earlier in the month, the Prescription of Medical Cannabis for Serious Medical Conditions Joint Study Committee received the testimonies of law enforcement officials. After the meeting, Mr. Peake delivered a statement in which he noted that "While many of our speakers agreed that a solution is needed to help treat our children, we heard some very specific concerns today - concerns that I myself have had. We heard testimonies regarding the fear and risk of a black market, as well as a "slippery slope" scenario leading to the recreational use of marijuana."
Cops rarely mistake plants as was the case in this 'okra bust'. Last year, in another rare instance, a Brooklyn apartment building was raided after cops received tips that the owner of the home was growing marijuana only to find that it was tomatoes.
