This undated file image provided by the U.S. Army shows Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Bowe Bergdahl caught up in California pot raid

Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was seen at a Northern California marijuana farm during a raid last weekend, where the former captive of the Taliban-linked Haqqani network in Afghanistan was reportedly visiting friends.

According to the initial report from The Anderson Valley Advertiser, Bergdahl was an “unexpected visitor” at the Mendocino County farm, which is approximately 120 miles up the coast from San Francisco. He had “no connection to the dope grow,” according to that report.


Authorities from the county sheriff’s department confirmed to NBC Bay Area that Bergdahl did not face any charges and was not arrested during the raid.

The initial report from the Advertiser said that military officials were notified, quoting county sheriff Tom Allman who said that Bergdahl was not involved in the growing of marijuana and was “above politeness,” showing his military ID as others in the house were being arrested.

According to that report, he was escorted to Santa Rosa, California, by military personnel, to return to his duty station near Washington. The sheriff’s department confirmed that he was on authorized leave to visit friends.

Bergdahl is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing on charges of desertion, after being returned to the United States in May 2014 as part of a prisoner swap in exchange for the release of five Taliban detainees at Guantanamo Bay.

An earlier version of this story misstated the nature of Bergdahl’s forthcoming court date.

CORRECTION: Corrected by: Jennifer Shutt @ 07/24/2015 10:48 AM An earlier version of this story misstated the nature of Bergdahl’s forthcoming court date.

This article tagged under: California

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