Snap 03-28-07

Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota

METH Awareness And Prevention Project of South Dakota

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March 28, 2007

In California Officials wrapped up a 15-month joint investigation that they believe severed a direct Meth distribution route between two counties. Sheriff’s detectives, federal Drug Enforcement Administration and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agencies banded together to seize 82-pounds of Meth. The investigation started with a traffic stop in December 2005. Sheriff’s detectives pursued and arrested a man who they believe was involved in a larger drug operation. They discovered he was on the bottom tier of the operation, which started in Mexico with powder Meth being smuggled across the border into California. There, the powder was converted into crystal Meth. Authorities found a conversion lab in January 2007. Now, after executing search warrants at seven homes, seven suspects have been arrested. In addition to the 82-pounds of Meth, officers seized 4-1/2 pounds of cocaine and nearly $250,000 in cash.

In Florida Deputies who 46-year-old man pulled over for a faulty equipment violation on his RV discovered he had an outstanding warrant for violation of probation for second-degree murder. A search of his RV turned up chemicals and materials for making Meth, two rifles, ammunition, four marijuana plants growing in a bathtub and other drug-related items. Deputies arrested him, and while he was being booked, a bag of Meth fell from his armpit. The suspect now faces a slew of charges.

In Connecticut A 34-year-old man was sentenced to 57-months imprisonment after pleading guilty to one count of possessing pseudoephedrine with intent to produce Meth. The former high school honor student faces extensive treatment for physical disorders; his defense attorney believes he may need open heart surgery for a heart ailment aggravated by years of drug abuse. After his prison time, he must serve three years of supervised release, undergo drug and alcohol testing and counseling. He was also was ordered to repay the government more than $4,000 for cleaning up the chemicals in the lakefront cottage authorities say was the base for his Meth lab. The defendant was the last of three people to be sentenced in the case, which involved a raid on two Meth labs in 2005. The other co-defendants are already serving prison sentences for charges of running a Meth lab.

In Florida Officers raided a suspected Meth lab and found numerous Meth manufacturing chemicals and four grams of finished Meth, plus another two grams of suspected Meth. A 39-year-old woman who apparently lived in the home was arrested, along with a 42-year-old man who was leaving the house as agents moved in.

In Oklahoma A truck driver from Mississippi was pulled over for driving 70 mph in a 45mph zone. The state trooper who made the routine traffic stop found a white pill bottle on the driver. Inside the bottle, he found Meth, Hydrocodone, Valium and Viagra. The man had been trying to conceal the pill bottle in the front pocket of his pants while he was talking to officer. After discovering the drugs, the trooper searched the semi truck and found two glass pipes containing a burnt, white, powdery residue, suspected Meth. The man was arrested and faces multiple charges.

In Kentucky Dozens of families were forced out of their homes while Hazmat crews cleaned up an active Meth lab in their neighborhood. Police were trying to serve a warrant in a mobile home park late when they found the lab in the middle of a cook. Officers evacuated about 100 people from the mobile home park for several hours, until crews made sure the area was safe. One man was arrested.

In Idaho A 25-year-old man accused of Meth possession and causing a deadly traffic accident last summer received a postponement on his court date. He was scheduled to go on trial for the drug possession charge, but his defense attorney told the court there's a "fifty percent chance" the charges against his client could be resolved without going to trial. His vehicular manslaughter trial is set to start on June 11 and now the Meth possession trial has been reset for June 26. The charges stem from a collision last July. The defendant is charged with slamming into a car with his pickup when he was attempting to pass other vehicles. The driver of the car, a 78-year-old man, died at the scene. A search of the defendant’s truck turned up a vial of Meth and drug paraphernalia. His passenger, a 24-year-old woman, has already pleaded guilty to a drug possession charge and was sentenced to 30-days in jail, three years probation and a drug treatment program. She is being called as a state's witness in the man’s drug case. The prosecutor also plans to call an Idaho State Police Trooper who is a certified drug-recognition expert. He is expected to testify to seeing a string of drug injection sites on the defendant’s arms after the crash.

In Indiana Two men were busted for allegedly operating a Meth lab out of an apartment complex. Officers investigating a complaint about a chemical odor arrested the occupant, a 21-year-old man, and his cousin, 18-years-old. The 21-year-old gave officers permission to search his apartment. The search revealed a small working Meth lab and a number of syringes.

In Pennsylvania A simple traffic stop developed into a two-car collision and potential Meth lab bust. Officers pulled over a speeding driver. But the 31-year-old woman driver took off and officers pursued her in a high-speed chase. The suspect smashed into a car driven by a 39-year-old woman. She had to be cut out of her car and was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition. Meanwhile, the suspect ran away from the wreck and was found in a local restaurant. She was taken to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Her passenger, a 36-year-old man, was subdued with a Taser gun for not following commands after the wreck and taken to a hospital with minor injuries. Police removed propane tanks and other Meth manufacturing materials from the suspect’s car. The driver and passenger gave conflicting stories. One said they were manufacturing Meth and transporting it, the other claims they were moving the materials to another location.