Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Meth Lab Busted, Two Charged

Two Gurdon area residents have been arrested and face charges of running a methamphetamine lab.

According to information from the Clark County Sheriff's Office, shortly after midnight Wednesday, March 1, CCSO deputies and officers with the Arkansas State Police executed a search warrant at a house off Center Point Road near Gurdon.

They arrested Michael J. Ferguson, 45, and Donna A. Ferguson, 39. A juvenile was in the house at the time, but was released to another member of the family.

The report stated a search of the house turned up equipment and paraphernalia commonly used in the production of drugs.

Certain chemicals necessary for the synthesis of methamphetamine were removed from the location.

Forensic chemists with the Arkansas State Crime Lab were called in to get samples from the containers and chemicals at the house.

A small amount of suspected methamphetamine, a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana and related paraphernalia, including hypodermic syringes, were found.

In addition, several firearms and an unnamed amount of cash were also found at the scene and seized in connection with the drug arrest.

The arrests, according to the release, resulted from a four-month long investigation. The CCSO and ASP worked together on the probe, with the arrests being made when enough evidence had been gathered.

Formal charges against the two are expected to be filed by 9th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Henry Morgan.

Methamphetamine is a schedule II controlled substance. The manufacture of it is a class Y felony, punishable carrying a sentence of 10 to 40 years or life.

Several charges are expected to be filed against the pair.

ROBBERY REPORTED

The CCSO is looking into the robbery of the DeGray Bait and Tackle shop.

According to reports from the CCSO, at 2:15 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, a call concerning the robbery came in to the CCSO. The clerk had flagged down a passing Caddo Valley police officer and told him she had been robbed at gunpoint.

Investigators went to the shop and began their investigation. The clerk said the suspect was a dark complected man with dark hair, possibly Hispanic.

He allegedly entered the store and pointed a black colored revolver at the clerk, demanded money and left. The clerk complied with the demands out of fear of being shot.

The suspect headed towards Caddo Valley on Arkansas Highway 7 after leaving the store.

He is described as being in his 30's, between 5-6 and 5-8, weighing about 160 pounds. The suspect was wearing a black cowboy had, black sunglasses and dark clothing at the time.

He reportedly escaped in a vehicle described as a black Chevrolet S-10 pickup with a red stripe along the bed. It is believed the vehicle has an Arkansas licence plate.

Anyone with any knowledge of this incident, or who may have been driving along Highway 7 near the bait shop around 2 p.m. on the day in question, is asked to call the CCSO with any information.

The number for the CCSO is (870) 246-2222.