Meth lab discovery results in two arrests
Published 5:00 am Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Two men were arrested after Lincoln County deputies discovered amethamphetamine lab on Goza Lane around 6:30 p.m. Tuesdayevening.
According to Capt. Dustin Bairfield of the Lincoln CountySheriff’s Department, officers responded to a complaint on SammyHall, 34, of 3021 Goza Ln. Bairfield said the complainant calledbecause of concern for the welfare of children also living at theresidence.
Upon arrival, Bairfield said he found crystal methamphetaminelaying on a table in plain view, and he immediately arrestedHall.
Hall then consented to a search of the house and led officers toa truck which was used as a lab, Bairfield said.
Hall is charged with possession of crystal methamphetamine andmanufacture of crystal methamphetamine.
Hall was living in the trailer with his wife and three kids,which Bairfield said were approximately 2, 7, and 10 years of age.Neither the wife nor the kids were charged in connection with theincident.
The Department of Human Services was notified of the incidentbecause of the children present, Bairfield said.
While officers were on scene, Bairfield said a second man,Jarrette Newman, 35, of 1001 Newman Ln., Wesson, arrived and wasfound to have drug paraphernalia on him. He was then arrested andcharged with possession of drug paraphernalia.
Sheriff Wiley Calcote said his department had been looking forHall for some time.
“This is a guy we’ve known about for a long time. We’re glad toget him,” Calcote said, adding that Hall, whose residence on GozaLane is close to the county line, was suspected in activity in bothLincoln and Copiah counties.
The Copiah County Sheriff’s Office had also been monitoring him,Calcote said. Hall would relocate to and from Copiah and Lincolncounties, complicating the two agencies’ efforts to catch him.
Calcote also named Hall as a suspect of several abandoned methlabs turning up in random places around the same area.
“Every now and then someone would call saying they’ve found anice chest on the side of the road with all this stuff in it,” saidCalcote, adding that the ice chests were labs that the owner wouldnever come back for.
John Douglas and Lisa Jackson of the Southwest Mississippi TaskForce were called to dismantle the lab, which took about 45minutes. The Heuck’s Retreat Volunteer Fire Department was alsocalled to assist on the scene. After being dismantled, a unit fromthe Drug Enforcement Agency in Jackson arrived to remove thematerials used in the lab.
Douglas said the meth lab was of average size. Neither he norBairfield knew how much manufactured crystal meth there was.