Issue date: 9/27/07 Section: Campus News

Media Credit: Emily Hartwig Changing foliage weren't the only leaves found in Putnam Park this month. University Police found almost seven ounces of marijuana in a plastic bag Sept. 19, but have no leads on the owner of the stash.

Facilities and Planning Management carpenters tearing up wooden decking near the Putnam Trail found more than rotten wood and rusty nails last week.

According to a University Police report, the workers found a large bag containing almost seven ounces of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and other illegal drugs stuffed under decking approximately 500 yards west of the Putnam parking lot on Sept. 19.

"This is kind of unusual," Chief David Sprick said. "People usually keep a pretty close eye on those possessions."

According to the report:

The large Ziploc bag contained eight smaller bags containing "green leafy substance." One bag containing seeds and another containing stems. Police determined the green leafy substance to be marijuana.

Also in the bag were three orange capsules marked "Adderall XR 30 mg," a glass pipe, a metal pipe and rolling papers, among other items.

The total weight of the marijuana was determined to be 208.3 grams, or roughly seven ounces.

"The quantity and the fact that it was in separate bags may indicate it was intended for distribution," Sprick said.

Because of the condition of the packaging, Sprick said the bag had probably not been there for very long.

"We suspect that someone did not have a secure location to hide the stash … instead of leaving it in their residence, they decided to hide it in an area they could still access it."

Sprick said this is a very large stash to be missing, noting a few other times much smaller amounts of marijuana were found on campus.

The last significant drug bust at UW-Eau Claire came in February 2005 when two students were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. The West Central Drug Task Force searched their rooms in Horan and Governors halls and found almost a half-pound of marijuana and sums of money in each room, according to a Spectator article.

University Police does not currently have any leads on where the stash came from.

Sprick urged anyone with information to call the University Police tip line at 715-855-5555.

"People tend to think, 'It's just a little weed, no big deal,' … but in the drug chain there are some dangerous and desperate people."

If you have any information on the marijuana found along the Putnam Trail last week, please contact University Police at 715-855-5555.

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