Custer County Sheriff’s Office works to eliminate big crime with a small department

In the small town of Westcliffe, where everyone still follows the speed limit underlies a big problem, illegal marijuana grows.

On Tuesday, the Custer County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on a home they suspected had an illegal grow. The tip came from a nearby school when one of their students hadn’t shown up to class.

Sheriff deputies were asked to do a welfare check and that’s when they got suspicious, but knew it would take time to bust the criminals.

Some of the signs that made deputies believe a grow might have been happening was found on the outside.

Sheriff Byerly said, “you can tell there hasn’t been anything in or out of that garage in a long time?” as he pointed to a warehouse on the property. He continues, “how many residents do you see with a 300 plus amp serviced to their house?”

There are 11 people employed with the sheriff’s office including himself, Sheriff Shannon Byerly. He took KRDO right up to their most recent bust, a home that looks completely normal from the outside.

Sheriff Byerly says, “we have to make sure they’re growing more than the law allows and secondly, it’s going to hurt their pockets because of the money they spent to get those plants to maturity.”

That’s exactly what they found; 125 plants, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia. Two Cuban nationals were arrested and are currently facing drug charges.

Byerly says this isn’t the first time making a bust at this home. Back in 2015, a similar grow was found.

While there aren’t as many illegal marijuana grows in comparison to bigger counties, the Sheriff says his department will continue to get rid of them.