Snap 08-09-07

Methamphetamine Awareness and Prevention Project of South Dakota

METH Awareness And Prevention Project of South Dakota

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August 9, 2007

In Massachusetts - A 34-year-old man accused of having a Meth lab in his basement admitted that he used Meth less than 12 hours before he was arrested. He pleaded not guilty to the charges of running the lab. He was arrested after a bag of trash he set outside his home burst into flames when a trash hauler tossed it into a collection truck. The haulers called police after putting out the fire and discovering what appeared to be Meth lab waste, including several hundred packs of matches with the strikers missing, acetone, empty bottles of dry gas and several empty packages of Sudafed. Police examined other bags and found several other packages of empty Sudafed. The suspect admitted the bags were his, but said he did not throw any of the items away. He wouldn’t say who else may have thrown the items out. Police reportedly found more Meth lab materials in the home’s basement and paraphernalia with Meth residue. When officers questioned employees at several pharmacies, the suspect was identified as a frequent buyer of medicine containing ephedrine. The suspect, who is married and the father of four, is out on bail. His next court appearance, for a probable cause hearing, is set for late September.

In Montana - A 45-year-old man pled guilty to federal charges of possessing Meth for distribution. Officers executing a search warrant at his home in 2006 found about six-ounces of Meth and more than a pound of marijuana. About two weeks later, when the man was staying at a motel, another guest found a black bag on an elevator and turned it into the staff, which called police. The bag contained 196-grams of Meth, some marijuana and $8,530 cash. The motel staff then called the suspect’s room and told him they had found his bag. He came to the desk to claim the bag. Adding to the case, a witness told officers that the man received about a half-pound of Meth every three days from his supplier. The defendant faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years to life in prison and a fine up to $8-million when he is sentenced in November.

In Missouri - A 23-year-old man faces federal charges of possessing Meth with the intent to distribute it. He was arrested after he allegedly tried to escape police by driving his car in reverse, striking a patrol car and an officer, then switching into drive and smashing into a convenience store. An officer Tasered the suspect in an attempt to subdue him, but he continued to struggle and briefly escaped from the police. After they got him in custody, they searched his car and reportedly found a number of zip-closed plastic bags containing Meth and cocaine, as well as three handguns and ammunition.

In Kentucky – Police arrested a 31-year old woman after detectives found a Meth lab at her home. She is charged with multiple counts including Meth possession and manufacture and possession of Meth precursors. Detectives originally went to the home to interview her about excessive purchases of Sudafed from different pharmacies in several counties. They received consent to search the home and found a quantity of OxyContin and drug paraphernalia. That was enough to get a full search warrant for the home, and that led to officers finding the Meth lab in an out-building next to the house. They also found quantities of Meth, OxyContin, Hydrocodone and marijuana. Police called the Department of Families and Children to take custody of two young children who were at home during the search.

In Tennessee - A man picked up in Georgia faces drug charges after confessing to having a Meth lab in Tennessee. The 36-year-old was arrested when he was spotted allegedly buying items associated with making Meth. While he was in custody, the suspect told Georgia authorities about his Meth lab in a house in Tennessee. A search of the property turned up a “pretty good sized lab.” The suspect faces a charge of buying products to manufacture Meth in Georgia, and there are pending Meth-related charges in Tennessee.

In Indiana - An investigation of a house fire turned into a possible Meth investigation. The fire destroyed the ground floor of the home, and deputies say they found ingredients to make Meth in the basement. The woman who lives in the home told deputies a candle started the fire, but officials suspect it may have been a Meth lab explosion. Either way, the woman is in trouble for having the Meth making materials. Officers say they have recovered enough items to press a Meth manufacturing case. The woman burned her hands in the fire and went to the hospital.

In Maryland – A 29-year-old man has been charged in connection with a Meth lab found in June. Authorities were investigating a report of a suspected Meth lab at an apartment when they saw evidence of drug use and a man throwing things around. Police said the man threatened officers with a weapon, so he was subdued, taken into custody and taken to an area hospital for an emergency evaluation. A search of the apartment turned up items associated with Meth labs. An arrest warrant was taken out for the suspect on the first of August; he was already jailed on unrelated charges and was served the warrant while still behind bars. He is now charged with manufacturing and possessing Meth, possessing Meth production equipment, and maintaining a common nuisance.

In Kentucky - As deputies approached a suspicious car, they say two men and a woman ran from the scene. Officers found a Meth lab in the trunk of the car. An 18-year-old woman was arrested a short time later, and the next day a 35-year-old man was arrested at a hospital. He told deputies he injured himself trying to get away the day before. They both face Meth-related charges.

In Illinois – Five people were arrested as a lengthy investigation into Meth production and distribution drew to a close. Multiple law enforcement agencies coordinated efforts to bust the ring. The suspects, which include two men ages 51 and 47, and three women, 44-, 30- and 20-years-old, face charges ranging from unlawful purchase of pseudoephedrine to Meth conspiracy, manufacturing and possession.

In Kentucky - Sheriff's deputies were asked to check on the welfare of a man because family members were concerned about him. When the officers arrived at the man’s home, they saw Meth lab materials in plain sight. They got a search warrant and found a complete Meth lab and drug paraphernalia. The man was arrested on preliminary charges of manufacturing Meth and reckless possession of drug paraphernalia.

In Minnesota – A 34-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man were arrested after authorities seized a Meth lab at their rural home. Officers found the lab when they responded to a call about drug activity at the house. The couple was arrested on charges of felony manufacture of a controlled substance.

In Iowa - Neighbors complained of an odor coming from a mobile home and asked police to check it out. The officers who responded saw components of a Meth lab, got a search warrant and then found the lab in the home and an attached shed. Two men who lived in the home, 31- and 30-years old, were arrested on charges of manufacturing Meth and assault on a peace officer. The assault charges stem from the suspects’ attempt to slam the shed's door on an officer.

In Oregon – A 45-year-old man was arrested on drug charges after he revealed in testimony during a child dependency hearing that he inadvertently gave Meth-laced Pepsi to a 6-year-old girl and her mother. He was arrested in the courtroom on charges of Meth possession and delivery, delivery of Meth to a minor, endangering the welfare of a minor and two counts of reckless endangering. The man was called as a witness during a hearing that was supposed to resolve whether the child could safely be with her mother or would be placed in foster care. The judge cautioned the man concerning his rights not to incriminate himself, but he opted to testify. He told the court that he put some Meth in a bottle of Pepsi at his home. He then encountered the woman and child at a store, invited them to his home and gave the little girl a glass of Pepsi when she asked for a drink. He said he realized what had happened when he heard the child had tested positive for Meth. He also talked about his involvement in copper-wire thefts that police are now investigating.

In Florida - Officers discovered two suspected Meth labs in neighboring mobile homes. Both labs were described as relatively small-sized operations. Authorities also found smoking pipes, a hot plate, propane torches, lye, an air tank, a mask, gloves, fuel and coffee filters containing red phosphorus. Five people living in the trailers were arrested on drug-related charges, including manufacture of Meth. The suspects were two women, 29- and 23-years old, and three men ages 48, 33 and 31. The 29-year-old woman had babysat a neighbor’s young children in one of the trailers for a total of 15-hours in the week before the raid. The children’s mother is taking them to a doctor for an examination.