Friday, March 20, 2015

METHAMPHETAMINE PRODUCTION MAY BE ON DECLINE IN PIKE COUNTY OHIO DUE TO THE RESURGENCE OF HEROIN






MARCH 18, 2015

CHILLICOTHE, OHIO

Despite a pair of Tuesday arrests in Pike County connected to a suspected methamphetamine laboratory, meth activity across the area appears to be trending downward.

According to Cpt. Kevin Teeters, of the Chillicothe Police Department, the city has dealt with far fewer calls of suspicious chemical smells consistent with methamphetamine manufacturing than in recent years.

"Every once in a while, we get a report of places that smell like a meth lab," Teeters said. "But we just don't get the calls like we did years ago."

In October, during a discussion of a relatively new city law that holds property owners responsible to pay for the cost of cleanup of meth labs on their property, Chillicothe Fire Chief Jeff Creed pointed out that the city had not responded to any calls for meth lab cleanup over at least the previous six months.

The change is a classic good news, bad news situation. Teeters said the resurgence of heroin as the drug of choice locally has been a primary reason for the decrease in methamphetamine production.

With regard to the Pike County situation, two people were arrested on charges of operating a suspected methamphetamine laboratory Tuesday morning after Pike County Sheriff's Office deputies were dispatched to a home in reference to a noise complaint.

According to the sheriff's office, as law enforcement officials approached the residence at 1022 Howard Road, one deputy noticed suspicious movement and a chemical odor coming from inside the garage. When backup arrived, several suspects inside the garage were detained and officials reported there was an active meth lab on site.

Once the scene was secured, the Pike County hazmat response team arrived to locate and collect items for disposal, including what was reported as a one-pot method meth lab.

Several other items commonly used for the production of meth were reported seized from the residence. James D. Jones, 38, of Piketon, and Danielle Whalen, 37, of Seaman, were taken into custody and will face charges that include illegal assembly of chemicals for the manufacture of methamphetamine and manufacturing of methamphetamine.

Additional charges may also follow when the case is presented to a Pike County grand jury.
Source: http://www.chillicothegazette.com