On 9 July 2018 a Game Commission worker clearing brush on state game lands in Berks County spotted a suspicious car off the road and called the police, who found about ten marijuana plants growing in dense brush.[1][2] Officers found two men at the scene: David B. Light, 54, who surrendered, and Gregory Longenecker, 51, who fled on foot into thick underbrush in Penn Township.[1][2]
Police called in a helicopter but lost Longenecker in the brush, so a state trooper climbed onto the Game Commission bulldozer to help search for him.[1][2] After the crew stopped the machine, they found Longenecker’s body behind it, and an autopsy determined he died of traumatic injuries.[1][2] The officer who had been on the bulldozer was placed on administrative leave while the incident was investigated.[1]
Light was charged with felony counts of drug possession with intent to deliver and conspiracy, plus drug possession and criminal trespass, and was released on bail.[1] Pittsburgh NORML’s director said a man had lost his life over an investigation of a very small grow and questioned why officers had not simply seized the plants and followed up later.[1][2]
