Sweep nets pot, cash, firearm Six arrests reported in Knox County; charges drug-related

ROCKLAND – The Knox County Sheriff’s Department seized nearly 20 pounds of marijuana, $200,000 in cash and a stolen firearm over the past week as detectives executed seven search warrants at area homes, Chief Deputy Todd Butler said Friday.

In a series of arrests that began Sept. 28, six people have been charged with drug-related offenses. Butler would not say whether the arrests were connected.

The almost 20 pounds of marijuana has a street value of approximately $120,000, according to Butler. The investigation is continuing, he said.

The latest arrest came Friday, when Hugh Knight, 52, of Warren was apprehended for cultivating marijuana, which is a misdemeanor, Butler said. Knight was released the same day from Knox County Jail on $750 unsecured bail, according to a jail officer.

On Thursday, Donald Pierce, 53, of Rockland was arrested on a warrant for unlawful trafficking in marijuana, a felony charge, Butler said. Pierce was released from Androscoggin County Jail in Auburn, according to a jail officer there, who would not disclose the amount of bail.

A search warrant was executed at about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Owls Head home of Arthur and Amy Pierce, where 11 pounds of processed marijuana and $10,000 in cash were confiscated. A stolen firearm also was recovered from the home, Butler said.

Arthur D. Pierce, 33, and Amy B. Pierce, 32, were both charged with unlawful trafficking in marijuana and were released on $1,000 unsecured bail, according to court records.

The first in the string of arrests involved a Friendship couple who were apprehended Sept. 28 at their home, where sheriff’s detectives uncovered several pounds of marijuana and $40,000 in cash.

Wade Reed, 47, and Sherrie Reed, 45, both of Friendship were charged with trafficking in marijuana. They later were released on $500 bail each.

Three of the search warrants were executed in Rockland, Waldoboro and Friendship, Butler said, declining to provide specific details from those probes.

Detectives Donna Dennison, Ernest McIntosh and Reggie Walker are continuing the investigation, the chief deputy said.