Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Meth Chemicals, Lab Found

By JOHN MILLER

A major methamphetamine lab was literally uncovered in Nevada County Wednesday, Sept. 10.

According to Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell, a local resident was doing some work with a bulldozer near an unused livestock pen when he uncovered an unusual object. This turned out to be a plastic rifle case with a distillation tube inside. A total of three such cases were found at the scene. Additionally, a tube containing more than eight ounces of "meth oil" was found.

Otwell was called about 5:30 p.m. and when he arrived at the scene and saw what it was, called Arkansas State Police criminal investigator Lt. Mike Fletcher.

When Fletcher and his crew arrived, the items were fingerprinted, with the prints sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock.

The Drug Enforcement Agency office in Oklahoma was notified of the find and sent officers to the scene. Otwell said he and his men waited until the DEA showed up and took the evidence back to Oklahoma where it will be destroyed.

Authorities call it a major methamphetamine lab capable of producing about two pounds of the illegal drug per week.

Otwell said all the lab needed to be operational was electricity. He said it was an old P2P type meth lab, which is expensive to operate because of the equipment needed. However, all the equipment necessary to operate it was found at the scene.

Meth oil, Otwell said, is the base form of the drug. Once the methamphetamine has been "cooked down" the meth oil is the residue left. This oil is then dried into a powder or crystal form on a 1:1 ratio. The powder or crystal is what is sold on the streets.

Methamphetamine has a street value of $2,800 per ounce.

PROBE CONTINUES

Investigation into the murder of 77-year-old Chester Hooker continues.

According to Lt. Mike Fletcher with the Arkansas State Police criminal investigation unit, the medical examiner has given verbal cause of Hooker's death as a severe beating to the head and arms with a blunt instrument.

Fletcher said officers are still running down leads and gathering evidence, as well as interviewing people.

Officers ask that anyone who may have been at or near the Broadway Hotel Saturday, Sept. 6, between 9-10:30 p.m. and might have seen something out of the ordinary to call the NCSO.

Hooker's body was found in the hotel's office by a resident.

FORGERY

A 37-year-old Prescott man had a run of bad luck Thursday, Sept. 11.

Harold Green was stopped by Prescott Police Chief Willie Latin, who found a pipe believed to be drug paraphernalia on the suspect.

Green was taken to the Nevada County jail at the time. However, while there, it was learned he was responsible for a series of forged checks cashed at local businesses.

According to Jim Westmoreland, criminal investigator with the NCSO and PPD, Green is expected to be charged with at least four counts of second degree forgery and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both charges are class C felonies, carrying sentences of 3-30 years in the state pen and fines of up to $10,000.

AUTO THEFTS

Shortly before midnight Saturday, Sept. 13, the NCSO received a call from the Ouachita County Sheriff's Office concerning a stolen vehicle possibly heading toward Nevada County.

However, before ASP Cpl. Bobby Carlton saw the suspect, Joey Lee Johnson, 30, of Sparkman, the suspect had stolen two more vehicles.

According to Westmoreland, Carlton chased Johnson through Prescott on Highway 24 before finally getting him stopped outside the city limits.

But, Johnson had ditched the vehicle he had reportedly stolen in Ouachita County near Bluff City, where he took a pickup owned by James Tomlin. This truck was abandoned by the suspect in favor of one owned by James Cummings.

Carlton saw the suspect in the Cummings vehicle when the chase began.

Westmoreland said Johnson is expected to be charged with two counts of theft of property over $2,500, a class B felony, punishable by 5-30 years in jail and a fine not to exceed $15,000.

Three law enforcement agencies were involved in the chase, including the ASP, PPD and NCSO.

Westmoreland urges all motorist to keep their vehicles locked, even at home, and remove the keys as well.

CAMP BURNED

Ward's deer camp, off county road 40, south of Bluff City, was burned Sunday evening.

According to Westmoreland, the NCSO got a call about the camp burning around 5 p.m. Sunday. He said two witnesses, who are also members of the camp, saw a suspicious vehicle near the camp shortly before the fire was discovered and were able to get the license plate number.

The camp was a complete loss, Westmoreland said, adding arson is suspected and the investigation continues.

STOP MADE

Five suspects from Columbia County were arrested in Nevada County Sunday around 11 p.m.

According to Otwell, the NCSO was notified by the CCSO about a suspected assault heading toward Rosston.

Deputies with the NCSO stopped the suspects, three men and two women, near Willisville, holding them until officials with the CCSO arrived.

Otwell said NCSO deputies found methamphetamine and marijuana in the suspect vehicle, but let the CCSO handle the charges.