As law enforcement agencies across north Alabama continue to combat the production methamphetamine, local police are utilizing a powerful resource to help keep the drug out of Guntersville. That resource is our local merchants.

The Guntersville Police and local businesses work closely together to monitor the sale of ingredients used in manufacturing meth.

“We obviously don’t have enough police officers to be everywhere all the time,” said police Chief Jim Peterson. “So we do depend on the public to give us a heads up in these situations.”

This is the exact scenario that led to the arrest of 6 alleged drug producers in two separate incidents over the past two weeks.

The first case took place just before Christmas; police were tipped off about an odd individual buying drain cleaner at a store in town. After receiving a description of the vehicle, Investigator Doug Ware and policeman Anthony Harbin located the auto and proceeded to follow it around the city as the occupant continued to purchase various meth ingredients.

The man stopped off at another store and purchases a box of cold medicine which contained pseudoephedrine, a key component of meth. Police then followed the man to a different store on top of the mountain, where store employees informed investigators that the man had allegedly shoplifted more cold medicine.

At this point police intervened, and the man was arrested without incident at a local gas station before his was able to leave the city. After inspecting the vehicle, Investigators found a wide array of ingredients used to produce meth and the 32 year old man from Blountsville was charged with manufacturing of a controlled substance.

A few of days later, another store gave police a tip of individuals buying possible meth ingredients. Investigator Ware again tailed the vehicle, which led the investigation to some suspicious activity at 3403-A Perry Street in East Lake.

After Police arrived to survey the situation, officers were immediately aware of a strong chemical odor being vented from the residence. A man and a woman were exiting the apartment as Ware and Lt. Beau Cagle were approaching. The couple attempted to avoid the officers, but Cagle stopped them to see some identification as Ware headed for the front stoop.

Once Ware reached the front door he turned to tell Cagle that he could smell meth, the man being questioned lashed out and struck Cagle in the face and then attempted to flee. The man only made it a few yards before being overcome and cuffed. Ware ordered the other occupants out of the house and further investigation revealed a one-pot meth lab inside and meth ingredients inside.

In total 5 were arrested for manufacturing a controlled substance and a six year old child found inside was turned over to DHR.

Peterson said this “one-pot” type lab is becoming more and more common due to the fact it is so compact and easy to operate. These small labs are usually in small containers such as 2-liter soft drink bottles or small cans.

Because of a couple small tips from some local businesses, several meth makers and their potential drugs are now off the streets of Guntersville.

“The merchants here in the city do a great job notifying us anytime there is something going on that we should be aware of,” said Peterson. “In this instance with the lab in East Lake, it obviously paid off big.”

Peterson also said that although we do have our share of meth cases, it is unusual to find an actual meth lab inside the city.

“We usually find a lot of non local people shopping for the ingredients before manufacturing somewhere else,” added Peterson.