Thursday, May 21, 2009

Deputies Bust Two Meth Labs In One Day

   Agents with the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department busted a meth lab in the Ethridge area in recent days, then seized components for a second lab the same afternoon.

   According to a press release issued Wednesday by Sheriff Kenny Taylor, agents with the Crime Suppression Unit made their way to 110 Lincoln Street, Ethridge, around 11:30 on May 9 to investigate possible drug activity. After gaining consent to conduct a search of the premises they report seizing “a container of hazardous liquid chemical mixture that had been used to make meth,” along with numerous components used to manufacture the drug, items of drug paraphernalia, and several bags of marijuana.

   As a result of the operation, agents report that resident Ronald Romesburg was taken into custody along with Lawrenceburg resident Crystal Ann Smith, and Scott Sobey of 59 Marsh Road, Bellfast, Maine. Each was charged with the crime of manufacturing methamphetamine.

   Around 2:00 that afternoon agents made their way to 173 Cemetery Road in Summertown to follow up on a tip regarding another possible meth lab. There, agents report finding a number of precursor chemicals involved in the meth manufacturing process. They indicate that Paul J. Register, 39, of First Avenue, Lawrenceburg, was placed under arrest as was Mitchell L. Norman, 18, of Summertown. Both face manufacture of methamphetamine charges, as well.

   Taylor reports, “Lawrence County is one of the leading counties in the seizure of meth labs this year.” He credits the success to the deputies “putting the hard work and effort into combating the meth problem,” as well as other local agencies who, “go above and beyond their duties in assisting the sheriff’s department.”

   Taylor said he would like to commend the citizens of Lawrence County for placing calls to the department to pass along information or suspicions regarding the manufacture of methamphetamine. He requests, “If anyone has information regarding the manufacture of methamphetamine they are urged to call the Criminal Investigation Division at 762-1608 or the Lawrence County Jail at 762-3646."

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