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Couple arrested for meth lab operation
BY CHARLYN FINN
Port Lavaca police on Monday arrested a man and a woman suspected of operating a methamphetamine lab.
Trace Britton Adams, 30, of Victoria, was charged with possession and transporting chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance. Dawn Rills McDonald, 35, of Port Lavaca, was charged with possession and transporting chemicals with intent to manufacture and deliver a controlled substance. Both bonds were set at $25,000. Both suspects remained in the county jail on Thursday morning.
At 5:15 p.m. Monday Port Lavaca police officers executed a search warrant at a manufactured home on the 5900 block of south Highway 35, according to Police Chief John Stewart.
The lab was 100 yards from another residence and south of the Matson Addition.
Stewart said the two suspects were arrested after a lab was found in a shed adjacent to the home.
“The odor of the hazardous flammable chemicals was very strong around the shed and home,” Stewart said.
Stewart said two small children and a teenager at the scene were released to relatives.
“The laboratory was working at the time of the raid and a special team was called from Houston to come to the location to clean up hazardous chemicals which were found at the lab site,” Stewart said.
Stewart said the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force did the cleanup for the city. The cleanup was done at no expense to the city, Stewart said.
This was the second such lab found by the police in 2008. The first was found in March and was on FM 1090.
On March 11, PD officers executed a search warrant at 2412 FM 1090, arrested several persons on various charges and seized a large amount of methamphetamine and components of a clandestine “METH” lab. On March 14 Eric Samuel Martinez, 33, was arrested for being in possession of anhydrous ammonia with the attempt to operate the meth lab, according to District Attorney Dan Heard. Heard said Martinez’ trial is pending.
Illegal drugs seized in the warrant included approximately 2.5 grams of cocaine and approximately 60 ounces of methamphetamine.
In addition officers located lab components, precursors, and 12 firearms from the location.
During the Monday, Oct. 27 bust, a vehicle at the scene containing chemicals for the lab was seized, according to Stewart.
Fortunately the lab had not been in operation for very long. An older meth lab can leave behind five to seven pounds of hazardous chemicals per pound of product.
“We believe this was a relatively new lab that had not generated very much hazardous waste,” Stewart said. “We have been receiving information on Adams for some time regarding his plans to set up a lab and have had him under periodic surveillance. We located evidence including sales receipts for ephedrine purchased in towns around the Texas coast. Once we made arrests we contacted the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force who came to the scene and assisted in clean up. Evidence was gathered and dangerous chemicals properly removed. “
Stewart alleged Adams is believed to have completed a recent trip in which he had disposed of his most recent methamphetamine and was in the act of cooking a new batch when the raid was made. He said detectives are continuing to investigate the incident with respect to sales and potential additional charges.
While the lab was relatively small, Stewart said he was concerned because of the danger of people inhaling the chemical and the potential fire hazard. He was very concerned about the children being on the site and inhaling the chemical.
Larger, older labs pose greater threats because of this potential for fire and explosion occurring.
Officers involved in the raid were Chief Stewart, Captain Ed Matsis, Detective Donald Keil, Officers Jeff Ruppert, Jessie Gonzales, Brandon Riedel and Jason Boyd.
In March Stewart warned the public the chemicals involved in preparation of methamphetamine are often volatile, caustic, and a hazard to health.
He said any individual who believes he or she has discovered an illegal drug lab or the site of an abandoned lab should immediately notify local police and not enter the area of the suspected lab. Anyone who inadvertently enters a lab should back out and not disturb any cooking process or chemicals or equipment. Call law enforcement at 9-1-1.
If you have questions or suspicions regarding illegal drug activity to include possible drug labs at any time call the police department at 552-3788 for Captain Ed Matsis, Chief John Stewart, or any detective.
Trace Britton Adams, 30, of Victoria, was charged with possession and transporting chemicals with intent to manufacture a controlled substance. Dawn Rills McDonald, 35, of Port Lavaca, was charged with possession and transporting chemicals with intent to manufacture and deliver a controlled substance. Both bonds were set at $25,000. Both suspects remained in the county jail on Thursday morning.
At 5:15 p.m. Monday Port Lavaca police officers executed a search warrant at a manufactured home on the 5900 block of south Highway 35, according to Police Chief John Stewart.
The lab was 100 yards from another residence and south of the Matson Addition.
Stewart said the two suspects were arrested after a lab was found in a shed adjacent to the home.
“The odor of the hazardous flammable chemicals was very strong around the shed and home,” Stewart said.
Stewart said two small children and a teenager at the scene were released to relatives.
“The laboratory was working at the time of the raid and a special team was called from Houston to come to the location to clean up hazardous chemicals which were found at the lab site,” Stewart said.
Stewart said the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force did the cleanup for the city. The cleanup was done at no expense to the city, Stewart said.
This was the second such lab found by the police in 2008. The first was found in March and was on FM 1090.
On March 11, PD officers executed a search warrant at 2412 FM 1090, arrested several persons on various charges and seized a large amount of methamphetamine and components of a clandestine “METH” lab. On March 14 Eric Samuel Martinez, 33, was arrested for being in possession of anhydrous ammonia with the attempt to operate the meth lab, according to District Attorney Dan Heard. Heard said Martinez’ trial is pending.
Illegal drugs seized in the warrant included approximately 2.5 grams of cocaine and approximately 60 ounces of methamphetamine.
In addition officers located lab components, precursors, and 12 firearms from the location.
During the Monday, Oct. 27 bust, a vehicle at the scene containing chemicals for the lab was seized, according to Stewart.
Fortunately the lab had not been in operation for very long. An older meth lab can leave behind five to seven pounds of hazardous chemicals per pound of product.
“We believe this was a relatively new lab that had not generated very much hazardous waste,” Stewart said. “We have been receiving information on Adams for some time regarding his plans to set up a lab and have had him under periodic surveillance. We located evidence including sales receipts for ephedrine purchased in towns around the Texas coast. Once we made arrests we contacted the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force who came to the scene and assisted in clean up. Evidence was gathered and dangerous chemicals properly removed. “
Stewart alleged Adams is believed to have completed a recent trip in which he had disposed of his most recent methamphetamine and was in the act of cooking a new batch when the raid was made. He said detectives are continuing to investigate the incident with respect to sales and potential additional charges.
While the lab was relatively small, Stewart said he was concerned because of the danger of people inhaling the chemical and the potential fire hazard. He was very concerned about the children being on the site and inhaling the chemical.
Larger, older labs pose greater threats because of this potential for fire and explosion occurring.
Officers involved in the raid were Chief Stewart, Captain Ed Matsis, Detective Donald Keil, Officers Jeff Ruppert, Jessie Gonzales, Brandon Riedel and Jason Boyd.
In March Stewart warned the public the chemicals involved in preparation of methamphetamine are often volatile, caustic, and a hazard to health.
He said any individual who believes he or she has discovered an illegal drug lab or the site of an abandoned lab should immediately notify local police and not enter the area of the suspected lab. Anyone who inadvertently enters a lab should back out and not disturb any cooking process or chemicals or equipment. Call law enforcement at 9-1-1.
If you have questions or suspicions regarding illegal drug activity to include possible drug labs at any time call the police department at 552-3788 for Captain Ed Matsis, Chief John Stewart, or any detective.
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| Dow Fined | For the record |
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