Winder Police uncovered a house full of trouble this week — at least for the people arrested inside.

A routine call on Wednesday allowed police to uncover a house being used grow marijuana, police said Friday. The officers were investigating some minor property damage on Buena Vista Street when they detected the pungent odor of the illicit hemp plant coming from a nearby house.

They got a search warrant and inside found several marijuana plants, a room with special lighting, equipment and plant containers used to produce the plants, drug paraphernalia used to manufacture narcotics, some cocaine and a handgun, according to a police news release.

The arrested were:

  • William Platt, 20, of Winder, charged with manufacturing marijuana and related charges.
  • Heather Everett, 21, of Winder,charged with manufacturing marijuana and related charges.
  • Rachel Findley, 19, of Winder, charged with manufacturing marijuana and related charges.
  • Michael Saemisch, 23, of Dacula, charged with manufacturing marijuana and related charges.
  • Dustin O'Kelley, 22, of Bethlehem, charged with manufacturing marijuana and related charges.

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Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D. (center) is flanked by GOP whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. (left) and Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, as Thune speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. Earlier Tuesday, the Senate passed the budget reconciliation package of President Donald Trump's signature bill of big tax breaks and spending cuts. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

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