A Mill Spring man turned himself into the Polk County Sheriff’s Office after a helicopter discovered marijuana growing on his property.

David August Schneider of 125 Hawkins Dr., Mill Spring was charged with felony manufacturing marijuana and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, according to sheriff’s office reports.
The sheriff’s office, N.C. Highway Patrol and the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) discovered two areas with marijuana growing in Polk County last Thursday, Aug. 2.
Officers discovered a small number of plants growing around Schneider’s home in Mill Spring and another 505 plants growing in Saluda. In total, officers estimated the seizures to have a street value of $1.26 million.
No arrests are expected in the Saluda marijuana discovery because of the location the plants were found.
The N.C. Highway Patrol provided the helicopter. The sheriff’s office participated in cutting down the plants and will destroy them.
Schneider was released from jail on a written promise to appear in court.