Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team members from the Bee County Sheriff’s Office and Beeville Police Department were the first officers to barge into a residence in Pettus on April 28.

The raid took place at 11 a.m. and was led by Texas Department of Public Safety narcotics investigators from Corpus Christi and Beeville.

The investigator from the DPS Corpus Christi office said 39-year-old Mark Freeman, 18-year-old Mark Freeman II and 46-year-old David Keels were arrested on charges of possession of marijuana, more than four ounces but less than five pounds, in a drug-free zone.

The charge normally is a state jail felony punishable by a term of up to two years in a state jail and a $10,000 fine.

Because the drug was found within 1,000 feet of a school zone (drug-free zone), the punishment level was upgraded one level to a third-degree felony.

If convicted, the suspects could be sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined $10,000.

DPS narcotics investigators said they found 25 marijuana plants being grown inside the residence in varying stages of maturity.

Some of the plants were being grown in soil but others were being grown in hydroponics solutions.

Hydroponics farming is accomplished without soil. Plants are grown in mineral-nutrient solutions. It has become a popular method for growing marijuana.

Others who took part in the raid included Texas Ranger James Bennett, Highway Patrol Trooper Kolton Kendall, BCSO SWAT members Commander Karl Brune, Commander Mike Page, Sgt. Ronnie Jones, Sgt. Kevin Behr and Deputies Cecil Daniels and Simon Moya.

BPD SWAT officers included Lt. Richard Cantu and Sgts. Roland Rodriguez, Eddie Garcia, Art Gamez and Ryan Treviño.

All three suspects were released on April 29. Freeman and his son each had a $2,500 surety bond, and Keels was released on a $1,500 surety bond.

Gary Kent is a reporter at the Bee-Picayune and can be reached at 358-2550, ext. 120, or at reporter@mySouTex.com.