Naperville man accused of growing pot in forest preserve

A Naperville man is charged with growing marijuana plants in a Naperville forest preserve.

Randy W. Mitchell, 52, 114 E. Bailey Road in Naperville, faces one charge each of

producing or possessing cannabis plants, resisting or obstructing a police officer and littering.

Officer Laura Michael of the DuPage County Forest Preserve Police said officers stumbled upon nine plants in mid-August while on foot patrol in Greene Valley Forest Preserve.

“When we find something like that, we check to see if the plants are in good condition, which indicates that someone has likely been there recently, and these plants did look good,” she said.

Even though this was a smaller growing operation, Michael said, officers spent the next several weeks patrolling the secluded area of the forest preserve for the plants’ growers.

Ultimately, they arrested Mitchell this month, although another suspect escaped, she said.

Michael added that catching illegal cannabis growers is difficult because DuPage County includes 70 forest preserves that encompass more than 25,000 acres.

“That just shows you the effort the officers put forth to stop this,” she said.

Mitchell’s bail was initially set at $25,000, requiring him to pay $2,500 to be released. He was released on bail and is due back in DuPage County court on Oct. 24.