Domestic dispute leads to major pot bust in York County

Police responding to a trespassing complaint ended up with much more on their hands Monday morning.  David Megenhart called police to 999 Bankard Road because his estranged wife of several years, Leslie Megenhardt, had stayed at his residence two nights while he was out of town and she refused to leave.

Officers arrested Leslie Megenhardt for trespassing after she refused repeated commands to leave.  She in turn told officers that David was growing marijuana in a shed in the back yard and that she saw several marijuana plants there the day before.  She also said he grew marijuana in the shed while they were living together.

When police officers searched the shed they found items used for hydroponic marijuana production; a large grow light, bulbs, power supplies, irrigation and fertilizer system, fans, heaters and ventilation system.  Evidence in and around the shed indicated marijuana plants had recently been removed and loaded into a vehicle.  Officers familiar with Megenhardt noticed his pickup truck was not at his residence and he was sketchy about where his truck actually was.  He admitted to previously growing marijuana in the shed, but not recently.  Officers seized the growing equipment which filled the bed of a public works pickup truck.

While officers were searching Megenhardt’s shed other officers went looking for his truck and found it hidden behind a barn at his girlfriend’s former address just south of the PA/MD line in Carroll County.  West Manheim Township police officers called the Carroll County Drug Task Force for assistance and officers found the enclosed bed of Megenhardt’s truck packed full of marijuana plants and grow equipment.   A search warrant was served on the truck seized was 48 potted marijuana plants of various sizes along with numerous loose marijuana leaves, stems, stalks, bags of packaged marijuana, buckets connected by irrigation tubing, multiple marijuana smoking devices and other paraphernalia.  The vehicle was seized pending forfeiture.  The estimated street value of the marijuana that would have been cultivated from these plants at maturity is between $40,000.00 and $50,000.00

David Megenhardt was charged by West Manheim Police with: possession with the intent to manufacture marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, tampering with evidence, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of instruments of crime.  He was arraigned at central booking where bail was set at $10,000.00, Maryland charges are pending.

Leslie Megenhardt was charged with trespassing, theft, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia after marijuana and smoking devices were found in her possession.   She was also arraigned at central booking where bail was set at $2,500.00.

Assisting agencies were Penn Twp. Police, Maryland State Police, Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, Carroll County Drug Task Force and West Manheim Public Works Department.