Snap 01-31-07

Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota

METH Awareness And Prevention Project of South Dakota

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January 31

In Florida – Sheriffs deputies uncovered two Meth labs and made two arrests. The first lab was discovered at a home. A 27-year-old man and a 16-year-old girl were arrested and both face Meth-related charges. The man also faces sexual-battery charges because of the girl's age. The second Meth lab was found at a motel. Deputies reported smoke and a noticeable odor in the room before discovering the lab. No arrests have been made in connection to that lab yet.

In Oregon – A former preschool teacher was among four people arrested in a Meth bust in a quiet neighborhood. Officers began monitoring the house off and on about five months ago after receiving a tip. The raid also netted a seizure of a quarter-ounce of Meth. The owner of the house, a 36-year-old woman who was a former teacher, has been indicted on charges including manufacturing, distributing and possessing a controlled substance. Police believe she was selling about an ounce of Meth a week and allowing others to drop by her house and get high.

In Virginia - A 41-year-old man was arrested for allegedly running a home Meth lab. The investigation began just weeks ago when an informant told police the suspect cooked Meth in the unfinished part of his basement, making enough for his own use and a small number of customers. When officers raided the home, the red phosphorous lab was inactive but it had recently been in use. Before executing the raid, police rummaged through the suspect’s trash and found a number of items consistent with a Meth lab. The suspect had installed video cameras on the exterior of his home and carried a .40-caliber pistol in his waistband.

In Tennessee – Police responding to a call about a man lying on the ground next to his car arrived to find him sitting in the driver’s seat with the engine running. Someone had helped him into the car. But police discovered his license was revoked and asked him to get out of the car. As he did so, he dropped a glass pipe on the ground. An officer examined the pipe and found white residue on it. The officer arrested the 22-year old man, first on charges of driving on a revoked license. A search of the suspect turned up three bags in his pocket containing a white, crystal like substance that field tested positive as Meth. When the officer ran a background check, he discovered that the suspect was wanted on a warrant for trying to stab another man in December. Now, in addition to the charge of driving on a revoked license, the suspect is charged with aggravated assault, possession of Meth, possession of drug paraphernalia, registration violation and insurance violation.

In Oregon - A traffic stop resulted in the arrest of a 22-year-old man for possessing a gram of Meth and a .38 caliber revolver. Police later arrested a second suspect to whom the man allegedly had been delivering the Meth – a 23-year-old man who was arrested on a parole violation warrant.

In New York - A 47-year-old man was sentenced to 30 years in jail and five years of supervision for federal drug trafficking, firearms, witness tampering and obstruction of justice charges. He was convicted by a federal jury of conspiracy to manufacture and distribute over 50 grams of Meth, possession of a 9mm assault rifle by a convicted felon, witness tampering and obstruction of justice. He, along with co-conspirators, was charged with enlisted others to buy or steal the chemicals and equipment to make Meth; they then used the materials to cook Meth at various locations in Pennsylvania and New York. The judge found the defendant was responsible for the distribution of 1.3 kilograms of Meth.