Snap 02-27-07

Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota

METH Awareness And Prevention Project of South Dakota

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February 27, 2007

In South Dakota - A member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang was arrested near Sturgis on a warrant for Meth crimes. The 56-year-old man was pulled over after detectives discovered he would be in the area. He has been wanted since December 2002 for his involvement with a Meth lab discovered by law enforcement in California. He is charged with manufacturing at least 50 grams of Meth. His extensive criminal history includes arrests for firearms, narcotics, kidnapping and rape. He is being held without bond pending transport to California.

In Arkansas - Sheriff’s deputies arrested two men on drug charges in unrelated cases. A 38-year-old man was arrested after narcotics investigators pulled over the truck he was driving. The man had an outstanding arrest warrant for parole violation. A search turned up about six grams of Meth and drug paraphernalia. He faces charges of Meth possession with intent to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving on a suspended driver’s license and fictitious tags. And deputies arrested a 31-year-old after a complaint of gunshots. Acting on a tip, deputies got and executed a search warrant on a house. They found the suspect hiding in the attic. They also found about seven grams of Meth, a small amount of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and several Meth lab components in the house. The suspect was arrested, charged with Meth possession with intent to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia. The case is still under investigation and charges related to the Meth lab are pending.

In Pennsylvania - The principal of a middle school sold crystal Meth to police informants three times this month, including once in his school office. The 50-year-old man was arrested in his office following a controlled buy. When police entered his office, they found him sitting at his desk with a clear bag of Meth next to a glass tube with Meth residue and burn marks on it. Also on the desk was the marked money the informant used to purchase the drug. One informant told officers that the suspect used and sold crystal Meth for at least five months before his arrest. He faces felony charges of possession with intent to deliver Meth and delivery of the drug and related charges. He is being held under $200,000 bail.

In Oregon - State Police troopers; a SWAT team and detectives executed a search warrant at a business. They secured the approximately one-acre property that consisted of shops, travel trailers, campers, outbuildings and vehicles. The search led to the discovery of about 3 ounces of crystal Meth, marijuana, illegal prescription medications, a firearm, over $3,300 cash, and evidence of manufacturing and delivery of drugs. Three men, 51-, 48- and 35-years old, were arrested.

In Tennessee – A 19-year-old man told police that the Meth lab in his car belonged to his girlfriend, who jumped out and ran when he got stopped for speeding. But he was the one who ended up arrested on a charge of promoting the manufacture of Meth. The state trooper who pulled the man over did see a woman jump out of the car and run into the woods; he also say items for manufacturing Meth piled into a child restraint seat in the back seat. The woman was found two days later and arrested on charges of evading arrest, violation of probation, and violation of the Tennessee Meth Free law. Both suspects will be in court later this month.

In Kansas - Police investigating a strong odor coming from a shed noticed the chemical smell associated with Meth manufacturing and got a search warrant for the property. They found a red phosphorous Meth lab in the shed and arrested a 44-year-old man on charges of having a Meth lab on his property.

In Nevada – Police arrested a 35-year-old woman, a school district employee, for felony possession of 1 gram of Meth and paraphernalia. They also arrested a 32-year-old woman, who is an employee of the state Division of Health and Human Services on suspicion of felony trafficking of Meth – she allegedly had 4.5-grams of Meth when she was picked up. The two women were among eight people arrested in a Meth sweep.

In Michigan - A 50-year-old man convicted for possession of Meth was sentenced to 18-months to 10-years in prison. When he was stopped by police he had an outstanding warrant for absconding bond and was in possession of Meth. He had been on probation for malicious destruction of property and possession of Meth. A 31-year-old man received the same sentence for a second conviction for use of Meth. And a 32-year-old woman was sent to jail for one year for Meth possession.

In Mississippi – A 30-year-old man was released on $1,000 bond after being arrested on suspicion of running a Meth lab inside his mobile home. Sheriff's deputies responded to the trailer park when a resident reported a strong chemical smell. Deputies pinpointed the odor's source at the suspect’s FEMA travel trailer, knocked on the door, and detained the man when he opened the door. He admitted that he was trying to cook some Meth, and deputies found Meth lab components inside the trailer. The man is charged with possession of paraphernalia and was also being held for a previous probation and parole matter.