LINDEN — The city police department seized $16,000 worth of marijuana plants Monday and arrested Tharon Thomas of 616 7th Avenue West.

“We’ve been watching him for about a month. We had watched him take the flower planter inside at night and outside in the daytime,” McClure said. “I contacted the 17th Circuit Drug Task Force, asked them if they would assist us with a drug raid. They helped us with the surveillance on the house. It was a joint effort.”

McClure and Commander Clint Sumlin of the 17th Circuit Drug Task Force obtained a search warrant Monday morning and executed the allowance at approximately 1:30 p.m.

Charges brought against Thomas include Possession of Marijuana First and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

While the arrest itself is important, McClure believes the seizing of the plants may be the greater victory for the Linden Police Department.

“It was about a three-foot long planter,” McClure said. “You definitely consider this as a big win. Yes it was drugs, but it was not usable drugs yet. We actually caught this before it became a usable drug.”

McClure, who has been with the LPD for 18 years, said he has seen less than five cases in which an individual was manufacturing marijuana.