By HEATHER NELLIS

For the C-S-E

MINDEN — A St. Johnsville man decked out in camouflage gear was reportedly caught by authorities while trimming marijuana buds from plants he harvested on someone’s private property off River Road.

Mark B. Hickey, 49, of 39 Center St., was arrested after initially evading Deputy Tom Crosier of the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Officer Michael Greene of the St. Johnsville Police Department.

“He was in full camo when the deputy and officer found him, and that’s the entire reason he was able to get away,” said Inv. Bradley Schaffer. “He was able to circle back to his house in the village, but Officer Greene located him there, and contacted the deputies, who responded there.”

Deputy Jason Nare and his K-9, GAJ, also assisted with finding Hickey.

When Hickey was apprehended, he allegedly had a camouflage backpack that was “packed full of freshly-harvested marijuana,” Schaffer said. “It’s difficult to calculate the weight of wet marijuana, but without a doubt at it’s at least two ounces. The exact weight will be determined when it’s dried.”

During the sheriff’s office regular marijuana eradication efforts and marijuana-related arrests, Schaffer said officers have to trim buds from plant stalks in order to get a weight, which will determine the class and degree of a suspect’s charges.

But with Hickey’s alleged backpack full of marijuana, “he already did all the work for us,” Schaffer said.

Hickey was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of marijuana and unlawfully growing cannabis. He was released on appearance tickets, and is scheduled to re-appear in Minden town court at a later date.