TBI launches hot line to target methamphetamine

April 27, 2004

By MATTHEW LANE

BLOUNTVILLE - The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has created a statewide methamphetamine watch program to help fight the escalating problem of the highly addictive drug.

During a press conference Monday, Sullivan County District Attorney Greeley Wells announced the new watch program and the hot line number (1-877-TNN-METH) people can call if they suspect someone is buying the chemicals for use in a meth lab.

"Methamphetamine and the labs have been an escalating problem in Sullivan County over the last 18 months," Wells said. "It's a tremendous problem, a very highly addictive drug, and it is a very dangerous drug to manufacture."

Over the past 18 months, Wells said law enforcement agents have discovered six meth labs in Sullivan County. For three years prior to that time, Wells said authorities discovered one meth lab in Sullivan County.

"What we're wanting to do is make public to the people in this area the fact that the TBI has created a statewide meth watch with a 1-800 telephone number," Wells said. "It's for anyone who suspects that there might be a meth lab operating in the house next door or that someone is buying the chemicals that are used to manufacture methamphetamine."

Chemicals used in the manufacture of meth include drain cleaner, coffee filters, lighter fuel, starter fluid, cold medication and batteries.

"Most of the chemicals are things you can buy at convenience stores, Wal-Mart, Kmart or any retail outlets that maintain general merchandise," Wells said.

The average cost to clean up a meth lab is about $3,000, which doesn't include the cost to repair or clean up damage done to the house or building the lab is located in, Wells said.

William Benson, an assistant director at the TBI who handles drug investigations, said the watch program began as a way for retail employees to contact state law enforcement officials about any suspected meth activity. The TBI would then pass that information on to the appropriate local law enforcement agency.

Since then, the TBI decided to expand the program to the general public.

"Several counties across the state have hot lines, but there wasn't one statewide, so we wanted to come up with vehicles for retailers to have an avenue to contact law enforcement when they suspected people were coming in and buying the ingredients to cook meth," Benson said. "We rolled this program out in mid-January, and we have received 130 to 140 calls. That information has led to the location of labs in several parts of the state."

In June, a large meth lab was discovered in Mooresburg in Hawkins County, which local officials said was one of the largest meth labs ever found in East Tennessee.

In July, two meth labs were discovered in Sullivan County - one in a trailer where two people were arrested, and the other when sheriff's deputies served an aggravated assault warrant on a county man.

In August, authorities discovered a meth lab in Washington County while serving an arrest warrant for failure to pay child support. Four people were arrested.

Over the past 18 months, more than 700 children were taken from homes where meth labs were discovered.

"This is a problem that is statewide," Benson said. "This is not in any particular county; it's in every county."

Copyright 2004 Kingsport Times-News. All rights reserved.

Three arrested in Sullivan meth lab bust

By J.H. OSBORNE

KINGSPORT - An apartment complex just outside the Model City was evacuated Saturday after Sullivan County sheriff's officers discovered a methamphetamine "lab" in one of the apartments. Three people were jailed without bond as a result. Officers were dispatched to Apartment #2 at Mountain View Apartments on Memorial Boulevard at about 9 a.m., SCSO Lt. Joey Strickler said.

When an initial investigation indicated the possibility of a methamphetamine manufacturing lab, other law enforcement and emergency response agencies were called in, Strickler said. Cooperating in the investigation were the SCSO, the Kingsport Police Department, the Kingsport Fire Department, Sullivan County EMS, Warriors Path Volunteer Fire Department and the American Red Cross, according to a statement issued by the sheriff's office.

A methamphetamine lab was discovered and the apartment complex was evacuated as the scene was processed and hazardous materials were removed, Strickler said.

It was the third methamphetamine lab discovered by the sheriff's office in Sullivan County this year, Strickler said.

All were being held without bond Saturday, Strickler said, with arraignments scheduled Monday morning in Kingsport General Sessions Court.

Anthony B. Delp and Angela Delp were also arrested on charges related to the investigation of methamphetamine manufacturing at another location earlier this year, Strickler said.

Copyright November 09, 2003 Kingsport Times-News.

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