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Benwood Police Find Alleged Drug Lab

Photo by Joselyn King Benwood Police Chief Frank Longwell shows marijuana plants and other items confiscated during a search at 39 Roosevelt Ave. Thursday night.

BENWOOD — A man was arrested Thursday night in Benwood after police officers reportedly discovered marijuana plants and a working drug lab at his home.

Daniel Ryan Beck, 31, a resident of Oklahoma living at 39 Roosevelt Ave., was arrested on charges of child endangerment, cultivating marijuana and having illegal firearms, according to Police Chief Frank Longwell. He was transported to Northern Regional Jail pending arraignment, which was expected to happen this morning.

Two children, ages 10 and 8, were found living at the residence, and are now with their grandmother.

Longwell said officers discovered the alleged drug lab while executing a search warrant on an unrelated allegation.

Among the items confiscated were 14 small marijuana plants, three larger ones, a firearm with a silencer, various seeds and mushrooms, lighting and other instruments and chemicals used in the production of marijuana and illegal drugs.

Also taken from the home were electronic devices. Longwell assessed the value of the items at about $15,000.

“The investigation is still continuing,” Longwell said. “As we gather more evidence, there could be more charges in the future.”

Benwood officers were assisted by the McMechen Police Department, as well as the K-9 unit from the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department.

Longwell, who has served as police chief for more than 30 years, said he doesn’t remember a similar drug bust in Benwood.

He and his officer were very surprised by the results of the home search, and the size of its operation.

“We have a well-staffed department,” Longwell said. “It’s very seldom we come up with big deals like this. We knew there were little patches, but this was an exceptional bust for us. These drugs would have probably ended up in the schools, and these are the type of operations we want to put out of business.”

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