COLUMBUS – A West Side man is facing drug charges after Franklin County sheriff’s deputies discovered approximately 500 pounds of marijuana and 95 marijuana plants on his Prairie Township property.
Deputies responding to a call at the New Rome Motel, 5426 W. Broad Street, on Sept. 13 detected a strong aroma of marijuana coming from the yard of a neighboring house on Buena Vista Avenue, Sheriff Dallas Baldwin said.
The deputies discovered a large number of marijuana plants in the backyard, camouflaged by sunflowers but tall and noticeable, Baldwin said.
When deputies approached the house Greg Grossholz came to the door and was ordered outside while Special Investigations Unit detectives were notified.
After a search warrant was obtained detectives recovered approximately 500 pounds of processed marijuana, with an approximate street value of $600,000, along with 95 plants.
The haul included three yard waste bags and numerous plastic tubs filled with marijuana and several plastic baggies filled with processed marijuana, Baldwin said.
In addition to the seized marijuana, Baldwin says detectives found 43 cats in the house, which were turned over family members who had arrived at the scene.
Grossholz, 59, has been charged with manufacture of drugs or cultivation of marijuana, a felony.
Baldwin says detectives will continue to investigate.