Drug enforcement teams dismantle meth lab bombs by using robots
October 15, 2008
When the St. Louis County Police purchased their RMI-9WT Bomb Removal Robot with Homeland Security funds in 2005, it cost them $103,000.00. But, if you ask the Franklin County police, they’ll tell you that it’s worth every penny.
After Franklin County police arrived at the scene of an active meth lab, they realized they needed to call for some assistance. St. Louis County Police agreed it was time to pull out all of the stops and deploy their RMI-9WT Bomb Removal Robot.
Once the RMI-9WT arrived, police realized they had a problem. The small size of the home prevented sending the robot in to find the bomb. It was time for plan B, a bomb technician was sent in to the home to remove the bomb and hand it off to the RMI-9WT robot that waited outside.
With bomb in hand, the RMI-9WT took the bomb to an open field, where it was detonated. Police described the explosion to a WWII grenade. Shrapnel, they reported, flew as far out as 75 yards away, but no one got injured, thanks to the assistance of the robot.
The RMI-9WT survived the blast, but it didn’t fare as well as the humans involved in the meth lab bust. It sustained nearly $25,000 in damages.
Indiana meth lab operator throws acid at law officer
October 14, 2008
Acting on a tip, Indiana’s Kosciusko County Drug Task Force found Gary Miller walking down the street, at the intersection of North Lake and North Washington streets, carrying a portable meth lab. When police began to question him about the contents of the bag he was carrying, he took acid from inside of the bag and Read more
TN sets new record in 2008 for meth lab busts
October 8, 2008
On September 18, Blount County, TN police arrested Teresa Lynn Coada, 51, of Lake City, Boyd Eugene Cable, 45, of Greenback in and Daisy Mae Sturgill, 38 of of Sweetwater on charges related to meth possession and the illegal manufacturing of meth. The Blount County bust has pushed Tennessee’s 2008 meth lab busts up to 412, surpassing last year’s total of less than 400. It makes me wonder what October, November, and December will do to meth lab busts in TN. The meth lab problem is not going away, folks. In fact, I predict it will continue to rise as we all struggle with a lack of jobs and educational opportunities, especially in rural America.
Parents of 7 month old baby arrested for running a meth lab
October 6, 2008
When someone is addicted to methamphetamine, nothing matters more to them than getting more meth. If you suspect that someone is operating a meth lab, please notify your local police department or Sheriff’s office. Just one anonymous call could save the life of a child.
K-9 Dogs help police to sniff out mobile meth labs
October 6, 2008
Police efforts to crack down on meth lab homes in communities across America have spurred meth lab operators to take their business on the road. In this video, police in Summerdale, Alabama discovered a mobile meth lab during a routine traffic stop, with the help of a K-9 dog. On board the vehicle, police found Read more
If you own a foreclosed home, you may not be able to vote for a new President
September 30, 2008
When I saw this video about foreclosed homes, I immediately thought how those who have lost a home because they couldn’t afford the meth lab decontamination costs.
Those who own a meth lab home that are struggling to pay to decontaminate it NEED to be able to vote for someone who is willing to help them, not punish them for not having the money they need to hold on to their home! The right to vote is the right of every American, rich or poor!
Flint Michigan inventor suspected of operating a meth lab
September 28, 2008
A process server who had come to the home of 54 year-old, Joseph Donnelly, noticed something unusual about his home. Something so unusual, that it required he make a 911 call to the local police. When police and firefighters responded to the call for help, they discovered containers of unmarked chemicals and equipment - the makings of a meth lab. But, a search of the home for meth came up empty. It didn’t surprise Donnelly. He was making something that he knew was worth much more than methampethamine. Read more
UC Merced Student Jason West gets charges dropped in plea deal
September 26, 2008
Jason West, 36, a former UMerced doctoral candidate, who was arrested on meth related charges, has agreed to a plea deal that will eliminate charges of grand theft and conspiracy to distribute meth. When the Merced Multi-Agency Narcotics Task Force, the Narcotics Enforcement Team, and the Fresno Methamphetamine Task Force arrested West at his home on the 100 block of Castle Drive in Atwater, they found chemicals and Read more
Kansas pharmacies test piloting pseudoephedrine tracking program
September 26, 2008
Kansas is test piloting a program called Methshield that has been used successfully in Australia to electronically track the purchases of products containing pseudoephedrine. The electronic tracking program is expected to help the meth lab prevention efforts of drug enforcement agents in the state. Read more
Iowa gets $2 million in grants to fight meth with help of Senator Harkin
September 24, 2008
With billions of dollars destined to bail out America’s corporations and banks, it was nice to hear that some politicians still remember the “little guys”, who need help too. Iowa, like so many other states, across America, is fighting a war against methamphetamine. Senator Harkin knows that the U.S. can’t afford to Read more