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Sylva Police seize drugs valued at $55,000 from Harris Circle home
By Carey Phillips
 The Sylva Police Department recovered drugs valued at $55,000 following the arrest of a local man last Friday (Sept. 23) in what Police Chief Jeff Jamison called “a substantial grow operation.”
Matthew Rippetoe, 25, of Harris Circle, is charged with possession of marijuana, manufacture of marijuana, possession with intent to manufacture/sell/deliver marijuana, possession of Schedule I substance (mushrooms), maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance, possession of toxic weapons, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while impaired, hit and run and driving while license revoked, according to Jamison.
Rippetoe is free after posting $12,000 bond.
The incident began around 2:30 a.m. Friday when Officer George Lamphiear and Sgt. Rick Bryson responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle in the Harris Circle area. They saw a gray truck going up the drive to 113 Harris Circle and were soon told by a neighbor that the truck had struck a garage across from her residence, Jamison said.
They went to the house and talked to Rippetoe, who lives there, the chief said. He failed a field sobriety test and was charged with DWI, hit and run and driving while license revoked, according to Jamison, who added Lamphiear detected an odor of marijuana.
The Sylva Police Department seized drugs, including marijuana and mushrooms, valued at $55,000 from a Harris Circle residence in what Chief Jeff Jamison called “a substantial grow operation.” Matthew Rippetoe of Sylva faces numerous drug charges in connection with the Sept. 23 operation.
Several officers went back to the house that afternoon and initially got no response. Rippetoe later answered the door, but declined a request to search the house after officers again smelled marijuana, Jamison said.
A search warrant was obtained and executed. Among items found were 3,859.5 grams of marijuana, including 81 plants, 9.5 grams of mushrooms, a jar of marijuana seeds and various drug paraphernalia.
“I’m very impressed with the initial officer’s detection of that odor,” Jamison said. “Based on that, it led to a very substantial seizure of drugs.”
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