Two Suspected Marijuana Dealers Arrested in Search of House, LIVINGSTON, March 18, 2010 - On Wednesday, March 5, 2010, at approximately 10 am, Deputy Darren Crow with the Polk County Sheriff's Office stopped a vehicle that matched the description of a suspect vehicle used in a possible theft case. Crow identified the occupants of the vehicle to be Michael Hoffer the second, and Ronnie McCarty. After speaking to the men, Crow received information that there was a third person in the possible theft case located at a residence in a nearby subdivision. Crow had been working the theft case. Deputy Crow then traveled to 154 Kevin Street in the Menard Creek Subdivision to speak to the third person in the possible theft case. Once at the residence, Crow made contact with Shirley Hoffer and David Wright. As Crow spoke to the suspects, he smelled the distinct smell of burnt marijuana coming from the interior of the residence. Crow then notified Lieutenant Andy Lowrie, Sergeant Howard Smith, and investigator Randy Turner (all with narcotics division of the Polk County Sheriff's Office) and advised them of the possibility of marijuana inside the residence. The three arrived at the residence and gained consent to search the house. During the search of the house, the investigators located nearly 2 ounces of marijuana located in Ronnie McCarty and Shirley Hoffer's bedroom. Both McCarty and Hoffer were arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. David Wright was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. All three were transported to Polk County Jail and booked in for their charges. Hoffer and McCarty were later charged with two counts of felony delivery of marijuana stemming from a three month long investigation by the Polk County Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division.
Shirley Hoffer: Charged with possession of marijuana and felony delivery of marijuana.
Ronnie McCarty, II: Charged with possession of marijuana and felony delivery of marijuana.
David Wright: Charged with possession of drug paraphernalia
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