Prowler report leads to marijuana bust

By Carrie A. Mizell

A 911 call by a woman reporting a prowler in her Trenton yard led to the arrest of a 42-year-old neighbor who was growing marijuana plants in his backyard.
Virgel Kerklin, 42, of 519 NE 4th Avenue in Trenton, was arrested on Friday night and charged with one felony count of Cultivation of Marijuana.
According to Trenton Police Chief Billy Smith, Kerklin’s neighbor called 911 at 10:40 p.m. and told a 911 dispatcher that she thought a prowler had run through her backyard and climbed over the fence separating her yard from her neighbor’s yard. At the time, the woman said she was home alone with her son.
When officers arrived at the home, they walked over to the neighbor, Virgel Kerklin’s home and told him that a prowler had reportedly run into his yard. While shining a flashlight around Kerklin’s backyard, officers discovered two pots with 10 marijuana plants growing inside.
Chief Smith said that Kerklin would not claim the plants as his. After some time had passed, Kerklin got a call on his Nextel radio and a man reportedly said, “We’re in trouble! The cops are here with the state attorney and they just took our plants.”
At that point, Chief Smith said Kerklin was placed under arrest and transported to the Gilchrist County Jail, where he is being held on a $7,500 bond.
According to Chief Smith, Kerklin’s live-in girlfriend admitted to officers that the plants belonged to Kerklin.
The street value of the one-foot tall marijuana plants was estimated at $10,000.
The investigation is ongoing.
According to the Chiefland Citizen, Kerklin was recently arrested in Levy County and charged with Violation of Probation for Driving With A Suspended or Revoked License as a habitual violator. He was released on his own recognizance at that time.