Fire leads to dog-fighting ring, drugs, weapons
Romance, AR (US)

Incident Date: Thursday, Mar 4, 2010
County: White

Disposition: Not Charged

Person of Interest: William R. Stewart

White County authorities say a man apparently killed himself after firefighters battling a grass blaze stumbled across an illegal dog-fighting ring and investigators found an indoor marijuana-growing operation on property where he lived.

William R. Stewart, 62, was seen outside his rural home by volunteer firefighters as they fought the flames Thursday. But he was later found inside the home, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to White County Detective Phillip Miller.

Also found in the home after investigators broke through a locked door, Miller said, were 38 firearms -- 22 rifles and 16 handguns. Many of the weapons were strategically placed, Miller said, with one by each window and exterior door of the house, including a bathroom window.

Miller said Stewart had lived in White County for some time and had no criminal history.

Found were 124 live marijuana plants ranging in size from three feet to seedlings, each worth $1,000, and 5.5 pounds of processed marijuana worth $1,000 per pound for a total street value of $129,500. Officers found 38 weapons: 22 assault rifles including an SKS, AK-47 and M-1 and 16 pistols including automatics and revolvers.

Firefighters from the Floyd-Romance and Joy volunteer fire departments were called to the remote location in the early afternoon, Miller said. Aside from the fire, the first thing they noticed was evidence of illegal dogfighting, Miller said.

"They saw what appeared to be a ring ... and some of the animals were mangled as if they had been fighting," Miller said. The firefighters reported their discovery to the sheriff's office, and patrol deputies were sent to the scene, he said.

The deputies discovered the marijuana, Miller said.

"When our officers were investigating the animal cruelty complaint they observed in plain view marijuana being grown in the same area," Miller said. "The plants were in a building but the doors to the building were open."

The outbuilding that housed the marijuana-growing operation was well-equipped, according to Miller.

"He had solar panels to operate the growing lights to stimulate the plants to grow," Miller said. Jeff Langley, head of the sheriff's criminal investigation division, said motorized track lighting was set up to move throughout the day so the plants would be evenly illuminated.

Firefighters told police they had seen Stewart walking around the farm, Miller said, and narcotics detectives were called.

"The officers were not able to contact him but were able to observe in the residence a deceased male that turned out to be Mr. Stewart," Miller said.

No gunshot had been heard, but the door to Stewart's residence was found to be locked and a search warrant was obtained, Miller said.

Crime scene investigators concluded that Stewart had died by his own hand when he placed a .45-caliber pistol to his temple and shot himself, Miller said. An empty holster was found on Stewart's body.

All of the other weapons found inside the home were fully loaded, Miller said.

References

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