Baker Police Chief Mike Knaps said a total of 10 arrests were made March 7 after officers knocked on about 200 doors during a warrant round-up.

“We will continue the round-up throughout the month (of March),” Knaps said. “Our goal is not to book everyone in Parish Prison, but for them to take care of their business with these warrants. If someone is not sure if they have a warrant they can call 225-778-1866.”

During the round-up, Baker officers arrived at the home of Clinton Pullen III, 34, of 2641 Ray Weiland Dr. to arrest him for being a fugitive from the City of Baker for failing to appear on speeding charges.

However, when officers made contact with Pullen at his residence, they were met with an overwhelming odor of burnt marijuana, said Knaps.

Pullen admitted to having just smoked pot inside his home.

When the officers asked Pullen if he had any additional marijuana located inside the house, he first stated that he had a small baggie on a table in the living room area but then admitted to officers that he also had several small marijuana plants growing inside a back room, Knaps said.

An officer then escorted Pullen’s wife to get the plants and bring them to the front of the home. She returned with five red planters containing pot plants, and Pullen was placed under arrest, police records stated.

Three of the five plants were in bloom and measured about 2 feet in height. Pullen’s wife told the officers he had been growing the plants for about a year.

The couple then agreed to a search of the home.

Officers said that during the search, they discovered an elaborate operation in a back room complete with specialized lighting and chemically treated water for growing the marijuana plants, police reports said.

Officers also discovered a small plywood box lined with foil containing four small Styrofoam cups with marijuana plants inside. The box was also outfitted with a fan, thermometer and additional lighting.

In addition, a small glass jar containing marijuana was found on a desk in the same room, as well as a digital scale, bongs and smoking pipes.

Officers transported Pullen and his wife to the Baker PD where they both provided detectives with handwritten statements, police records stated.

Pullen’s wife was released without incident, and he was later booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and a felony charge of cultivation of marijuana.

During the round-up on March 7, Knaps said the Clerk of Court advised officers that by mid-morning, about $2,000 in warrant fees had been collected.

A warrant amnesty program was held during the month of February only for anyone with an outstanding arrest or bench warrant in the City of Baker.

Knaps, who is also the Baker City Marshall, and City Court Judge Kirk Williams started the program, which recalled bench warrant recall fees of $50 but not the bench warrant itself.

The amnesty program allowed individuals who may not have had enough money to pay the $50 fee to get a new court date and extra time to pay the warrant, fees and any other court costs.

Knaps said Baker officers on uniformed patrol will have lists of those persons with outstanding warrants and will be actively searching for those individuals.

If you believe you may have an outstanding warrant in the City of Baker, call 225-778-1866 to set up payment arrangements and to keep officers from showing up at your home or place of business.