While District 5 Indiana Conservation Officers were assisting in looking for a wanted individual in Owen County a concerned homeowner reported an unknown male using a neighbor's garden hose before running away.
Near the garden hose ICOs located a shirt that contained wild ginseng root.
ICO K9 Finn was called in and a 1.8 mile track ensued. ICO K9 Finn flushed the ginseng digger out to an awaiting ICO. After a foot pursuit, the male was taken into custody.
It was later determined the male, name unavailable as of this report, had an active arrest warrant out of Putnam County. Charges include harvesting ginseng in a closed season, resisting law enforcement, and criminal trespass.
Indiana DNR says ginseng is a natural resource vulnerable to overharvesting because of slow growth, low seed production, and loss of forest habitat. The roots can be legally harvested during the established season with permission from the landowner. They also can be sold to licensed dealers during the selling season
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