Calling it a case of domestic terrorism, Sheriff Jackie Matheny says the epidemic of methamphetamine labs in Warren County is tearing the fabric of the community, harming offenders and innocents alike. "It's absolutely destroying our community," said Sheriff Jackie Matheny in addressing the McMinnville Noon Exchange Club Monday. "Some people think it just affects a chosen few, but that simply isn't true. It's destroyed a lot of families already. It's touched many of our lives." Matheny said local law enforcement has eradicated scores of labs over the past few years; however, their work has not slowed the production of the illegal drug which is made from many common household components. [continues 519 words]
Prosecuting over 100 defendants over the past year, the Southeastern Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force has combined law enforcement agencies in hopes of combating the meth epidemic. Given their recent impact, the task force has released a new hotline number citizens can call to report suspected methamphetamine trafficking at 1-866-RID-METH. According to latest statistics released by the task force, over 350 clandestine meth labs were seized in Tennessee during 2001, a drastic increase from 2000 when just over 200 were seized. Many of the labs were seized in Warren County; however, the exact number of labs seized here last year is unknown. [continues 327 words]
Drug arrests hit an all-time high in McMinnville during 2001, with police arresting narcotics suspects at a rate four times higher than just two years ago. Joining the record high number of drug arrests was an upturn in the overall crime rate which saw reported offenses rise for a third consecutive year, taking a significant jump from the preceding years. At the same time, the number of calls fielded by city police also hit an all-time high. The number of people arrested for drug charges came on the heels of two major undercover operations during 2001. However, the main rise in drug arrests came as result of routine police actions in situations such as traffic stops where drugs were found in suspects' vehicles. In total, there were 281 drug arrests during 2001, up markedly from the preceding year when 192 arrests were made. Both years dwarfed 1999 when 61 drug arrests were made in the city limits. [continues 761 words]
The new year started off much as the last year ended as lawmen have already raided a pair of methamphetamine labs in 2002. "We're still after them," said Sheriff Jackie Matheny following the recent raids. "We lost count of how many labs we found last year. It seemed like we were getting one or two every week, almost every time we turned around there was another lab." The first alleged lab of the year was found at the New Bildad home of Johnny Leslie Argo, 31. According to Matheny, deputies obtained information a clandestine lab was in operation at the Argo residence. When they arrived to investigate, they reportedly found numerous items in the home commonly used in the production of meth. [continues 166 words]
What began as an explosion at a Murfreesboro apartment may have been the opening shot fired in an invasion of the city by methamphetamine traffickers relocating their operations from Warren County. The explosion was the detonation last Wednesday of a meth lab allegedly operated by William Jacob Barnes, 23, formerly of Warren County. The lab allegedly blew up as Barnes was cooking the illegal narcotic in his apartment. Barnes was treated and released at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro for burns he received in the explosion at Hunters Court apartments where he lived. He now faces charges of meth manufacture and aggravated arson. [continues 580 words]
A canine team swept the parking area outside Carrier's Morrison plant Thursday morning, ending in citations for three employees on minor drug charges. According to Sheriff Jackie Matheny, the search was conducted by several canine teams including those from Warren County Sheriff's Department, McMinnville Police Department, and White and Rutherford County sheriff's departments. The teams conducted circuits of the parking lots surrounding the plant. Matheny said the search was conducted on request of Carrier management. Matheny said there were three instances in which lawmen found small portions of marijuana and/or drug paraphernalia in vehicles after the dogs picked up a scent on the automobiles. The three employees, whose names were not available at press time, were not arrested, but were instead cited into court. There were no terminations as result of the search, according to Carrier plant manager Daryl Leven. [continues 123 words]
In case you haven't noticed, Warren County as well as much of this region is in the middle of a methamphetamine epidemic. There's hardly a crime nowadays that isn't in some way tied with the manufacture, use or sale of meth. From thefts to forgeries, from robberies to murders, you need look no further than meth to find your villain. The drug turns everyday people into junkies and, in some cases, inhuman monsters. As far as I can tell, there are very few people who get free of the drug's hold, aside from long-term incarceration in prison. Its addictive nature and widespread use makes it public enemy number one in Warren County. [continues 590 words]
In the wake of a large-scale roundup of over 100 alleged methamphetamine traffickers in Warren and surrounding counties, law enforcement officials are asking merchants to assist them in fighting the meth epidemic. Specifically, authorities want merchants to be careful what they sell to customers, especially those who seek to purchase potential meth-making items in bulk. "The drug methamphetamine is easily producing by purchasing common household chemicals, diet supplements, cold medications and various solvents," the Southeast Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Force announced this week. "With your assistance and vigilance we can dramatically reduce the availability of these substances to those in our community who would seek to use these items for manufacturing meth instead of the manufacture's intended purpose." [continues 285 words]
Lawmen struck at dawn Wednesday, rounding up 20 alleged local drug traffickers as part of an 18-county operation which targeted the methamphetamine business in Southern Tennessee. In all, over 100 people were indicted by a federal grand jury across the state as part of the nearly two-year operation to identify alleged major meth producers and traffickers. Those arrested as part of operation TOP (Tired of Playing) were arraigned Wednesday before federal magistrates in Winchester and Chattanooga. They will each face federal drug trafficking charges which means extensive jail terms. [continues 634 words]
Marijuana has been a bumper crop this year for the Warren County Sheriff's Department, as deputies surpassed their all-time record this week and are now gunning to eclipse the 4,000-plant plateau. According to Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Danice Taylor, the marijuana eradication team surpassed the record Saturday morning, increasing its overall season total to 3,943 plants. The number surpassed the record set in 1999 when 3,900 plants were found. It shatters last year's total of around 2,400 plants. [continues 365 words]
With 652 plants seized Friday, the Warren County Sheriff's Department is ahead of pace to eclipse its own record for a single marijuana eradication season. According to Sheriff Jackie Matheny, the plant total for the season stands at 3,001, only 900 plants short of the record 3,900 plants plucked from area fields in 1999. This year's number is well ahead of the approximately 2,400 plants harvested last year. "We're finding quite a bit this year," Matheny said. "We've done a huge lot already, more than we expected." [continues 344 words]
