Indiana conservation officers and the R.U.F.F. drug task force in Fayette County combined efforts to arrest two men on drug charges after an investigation that lasted several weeks. (Note: R.U.F.F. stands for Rush, Union, Fayette and Franklin counties. Shelby County is also included but is not part of acronym.)

Law enforcement representatives observed two men entering a large marijuana patch they were investigating and moved to apprehend them. One of the men, Conroy E. Talbert, age 31, a citizen of Jamaica, was taken into custody. The other eluded the officers, but not for long.

A surveillance video provided the officers with a good likeness of the suspect who escaped. After two days, the officers were going to widen the search using the video before a lead prompted them to contact the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department. Sharing information from two separate investigations yielded the identity of the second suspect.

Putnam County officers took Christopher A. Carlson, age 40, of Indianapolis, and three other men into custody Tuesday.

A total of 38 marijuana plants weighing a combined 400 pounds were seized from the Fayette County patch. Putnam County officials also seized nearly 1,000 plants that may have been taken from three plots in that area that had been under surveillance.

Both suspects will be charged with cultivation of marijuana over 10 pounds, a class C Felony and Criminal Trespass, a Class A misdemeanor. Carlson will also be charged with resisting arrest, a class A misdemeanor.