Police Continue Investigation of Contaminated Fertilizer in Damascus

Montgomery County Police continue to investigate vandalism to farm equipment that was contaminated with an herbicide April 21.

On April 21 at 9:30 p.m., a suspect was seen driving into a storage yard area of a farm on Long Corner Road in Damascus. The suspect climbed to the top of a tanker truck that is used to fertilize fields, according to police. The following day, after the truck had applied the fertilizer to about 1,000 acres of corn, the farm owner realized that his liquid fertilizer had been contaminated with an herbicide, police said.

About a week later, employees at the farm discovered additional contamination of fertilizer in another piece of equipment.

The farm owner is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person who caused an estimated $500,000 in damages.

Anyone with information should call police at 240-773-6273 or Crime Solvers of Montgomery County at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477).

About Suzanne Pollak

Suzanne is a freelance reporter with Montgomery Community Media. She has over 35 years professional experience writing for newspapers, magazines, non-profit newsletters and the web.

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