Molino Man Facing Drug Charge After Dog Shot By Deputies

September 25, 2012

A Molino man has been arrested after the shooting of a pit bull by a sheriff’s deputy led to the discovery of marijuana growing in his backyard.

John Roland Oswald, 30, was charged with one felony count of producing marijuana. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $1,000 bond.

Deputies discovered five marijuana plants in Oswald’s backyard Friday morning when they attempted to contact the alleged owners of a pit bull that was shot with a shotgun when it attempted to attack two deputies.

After deputies received consent to search Oswald’s property near the Camp of the Pines in the 10000 block of Highway 29, they located four marijuana plants up to five feet tall and one plant growing in a bucket, according to an arrest report.

Oswald met with a narcotics investigator and admitted that the marijuana plants belonged to him, the arrest report states. “He admitted to having a pill problem prior to being involved in marijuana and that he had started growing marijuana for personal use,” the investigator wrote in his report.

Escambia County deputies had first responded to a complaint about an aggressive pit bull about 9 a.m. Friday at a residence on Highway 29 near Cotton Lake Road. The dog was loose in the victim’s yard and had attacked and killed her dog.

When deputies attempted to contact the alleged owner of the dog at a nearby home on Highway 29 across from the Camp Of the Pines, animal control located several other pit bulls in varying stages of distress. Escambia County Animal Control officers took possession of the dogs for further investigation. Charges are expected for the mistreated dogs, according to Melissa Rawson, spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office. As of Monday, Oswald had not been charged or officially named as a suspect in the animal cruelty case.

Code Enforcement also responded to the home and opened a separate investigation for various code violations, Rawson said.

Comments

8 Responses to “Molino Man Facing Drug Charge After Dog Shot By Deputies”

  1. 429SCJ on September 28th, 2012 5:16 am

    I find it mind boggling that a toxic chemical as alcohol is pushed across the counters and a naturally occuring plant is illegal.

    I guess it is all about who is in control and where the profits and influence are going to and comming from.

  2. No Excuses on September 26th, 2012 8:30 pm

    People who grow pot for recreational use are still breaking the law. Until it is legalized (if it ever is), they can and should expect to be arrested when the pot is found.

  3. Dave on September 26th, 2012 7:43 pm

    It,s not like he is selling CRACK like the Drug dealers are doing every night on Barth Road. Why can,t our fine sheriffs office do any thing about those dealers. Or even on Ceder Town Road.

  4. Dave on September 26th, 2012 7:40 pm

    How many skeletons are in your closet people?

  5. big o on September 26th, 2012 10:57 am

    First let me ask Sue a question.. Why same on Roland..His Name is John ??

    Second thing I don’t think this guy is hurting anyone with 5 plants in his own back yard. He has been caught and will have to pay the price but Give me a break on pot cultivation, they guy had 5 plants for his own use.
    I love how many people love to throw stones at other people.. GIVE ME A BREAK !!

  6. creekbather on September 25th, 2012 9:46 am

    why was’nt the street value posted, this time,.?, only a 1000 dollar bond means 100 dollars to get out ,..

  7. 429SCJ on September 25th, 2012 6:05 am

    Pot cultivation is serious business and people should regard it as such. It is illegal and you will be arrested and prosecuted. Mr Oswald thought that no one will care that I have a few plants in my backyard and that faulty logic, along with the unwanted attention of maintaining dangerous animals is what has placed him in the situation he finds himself in this morning.

    I wonder if the state will sieze his property?

  8. Sue Ballard on September 25th, 2012 5:44 am

    Shame on you ROLAND!!