9 Rattlesnakes Discovered Living In Canton Home: Police

CANTON, GA -- The Cherokee Sheriff’s Office found nine living rattlesnakes inside a home on Goodwin Road in Canton on March 16. During a welfare check, deputies saw marijuana plants growing inside the home, discovered the snakes and met with a woman in need of medical care.

Richard Rolands, 55, of Canton, was charged with manufacturing marijuana and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Agents with the Cherokee Multi-Agency Narcotics Squad and a game warden with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources responded to the home. In addition to the plants, more marijuana was located in the freezer.

Two of the rattlesnakes were eastern diamondback rattlesnakes, and seven were
southwestern speckled rattlesnakes. The southwestern speckled rattlesnake is not native to
Georgia. All the snakes were removed from the home.

DNR’s investigation is ongoing and charges are pending for the snakes.

Rolands remains in custody at the Cherokee County Adult Detention Center without bond.

The welfare check was requested on a woman who lived in the Goodwin Road home by her daughter, the Cherokee Tribune & Ledger-News reported. The woman was reportedly very ill, but did not want to go to the hospital.

Deputies searched the rest of the home during the check and found lights typically used to grow marijuana.