Milford drug bust nets 11 pounds of marijuana buds, plants

MILFORD, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – An Ashland man has been arrested in connection with a drug bust in Milford which netted 11 pounds of marijuana buds, police said.

Donald Temple, Jr., 57, was arrested following an investigation which began Wednesday afternoon after an officer stopped Temple who was reportedly trespassing near the Milford police outdoor firing range while riding an ATV.

The officer said Temple acted nervous and became agitated when he went near a cooler on the back of the ATV. Given Temple's behavior, the officer opened the cooler and allegedly found several bags of marijuana and hashish.

Temple was placed under arrest on misdemeanor charges of trespass with a motor vehicle, possession of a Class D drug, and possession to distribute a Class D drug.

According to the report, the investigation turned to Temple's home where authorities executed a search warrant and found eight marijuana plants in his backyard, as well as $15,000 in cash. The plants were reportedly growing in plain view.

Additionally, police recovered about $20,000 in plant materials and drug paraphernalia. They also found several motorcycle batteries that were on chargers, leading police to believe some type of outdoor growing operating was involved.

Officers located Temple's pickup truck on Haven Street. Neighbors told police they had seen Temple coming and going for some time, then entering the wooded area on his ATV for several hours. The truck was seized, police said.

By that point, authorities had contacted the U.S. National Guard, and on Friday morning, a helicopter swept over the woods and rocky areas between Route 85 and Haven Street. The marijuana site was located within 20 minutes.

The site yielded 11 mature marijuana plants and was located just over the line into Hopkinton, a few hundred yards into the woods from Haven Street and a few hundred yards from Echo Lake.

Officers said the plants and buds recovered would produce marijuana worth at least $25,000.

An investigation is underway and additional charges are expected to be filed.

Cox Media Group