Beckham County, OK – Beckham County deputies and a county crew helped U.S. Marshals remove dried marijuana plants from a grow operation outside Elk City that federal authorities raided several years ago, Sheriff Derek Manning said.

Manning said a U.S. Marshal contacted him seeking guidance on disposing of plants left at the property. According to Manning, the property was going through a federal disposal process following the earlier raid.

The sheriff’s office had assisted the federal agency during that raid. Manning said his department more commonly assists the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics with similar operations.

After discussing the removal with the marshal, Manning offered his department’s help. Deputies met federal personnel at the property, and Tate Fennell sent a county crew to help load and haul away the plants.

Manning said the plants had been sitting for at least a couple of years and were completely dried out. Moving them released heavy dust inside the buildings.

“Just bumping one released all kinds of dust in there,” Manning said.

When Manning arrived about 10 to 15 minutes after work began, he found deputies coughing heavily. He stopped the work and directed everyone to leave the buildings while he obtained masks.

“We didn’t know what all we were being exposed to,” Manning said.

The crew resumed work after putting on masks, which Manning said helped. He spent about two hours at the site, and deputies continued working for another hour to an hour and a half.

A county crew used a skid steer equipped with a claw attachment to load the plants into trucks for removal.

Manning said he did not know what would happen next with the property, but the marijuana removal had been completed. He praised the cooperation among those involved.

“The U.S. Marshals are very, very courteous and professional to work with,” Manning said.

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