Published: July 10, 2009 10:16 pm      

Police bust man for growing pot

Police charged an E. Walnut Street man with cultivating marijuana after investigating a report that the drug was being grown in his house, said Sgt. Willard Reardon, Richmond Police Department spokesman.

John M. Stokley, 55, was arrested Thursday and lodged in the Madison County Detention Center after narcotics officers went to his home to investigate and found 16 marijuana plants.

Stokley is charged with cultivating more than five marijuana plants and possession of drug paraphernalia, Reardon said.



Accidental gunshot

Police were called to Pattie A. Clay Regional Medical Center on Tuesday to investigate a patient being treated for a gunshot wound.

The man, a resident of the 400 block of Breck Avenue, apparently was cleaning a handgun when he dropped it and it discharged. The bullet struck him in the left leg and arm, police said, and the shooting was determined to be accidental.

The man was treated and released, Reardon said.



Tools stolen

More than $21,000 in tools were reported stolen Thursday morning after CSX railroad employees discovered an overnight burglary at a storage building behind their freight office on Whicker Lane.

Employees said the doorknob to the building had been broken, according to Reardon.

Reported missing were a Racine gas impact saw, 180 rail saw blades, two Husqvarna rail saws, two Stihl chainsaws, a Stanley/Honda rail drill, a Stihl pole saw, a DeWalt electric drill, a Stanley spike puller and a Stanley spike driver.

The items were valued at $21,165.



Other crimes

• A .22-caliber rifle and 500 rounds of ammunition were reported stolen July 3 from a car parked at a home on Sunset Avenue.

The Glenfield Model 60 rifle and ammunition were left in an unlocked vehicle belonging to a visitor to the residence.

The items were valued at $112.

• A $40 watch was reported stolen Thursday from a car parked in the 300 block of Moberly Avenue. The watch apparently was taken overnight, and police found no signs of forced entry.

Anyone with information about these crimes is asked to call the Richmond Police Department at 623-1162 or 623-8911.



Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.