Last Updated on: Friday, 29-Jan-2010 09:20:44 EST

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***BREAKING NEWS***

MUNICIPAL COURT PROBATION DEPARTMENT AND JACKSON COUNTY MAJOR CRIMES TASK FORCE BUST METH LAB

JACKSON--- In the best spirit of teamwork and cooperation a major operation of a clandestine area meth lab was closed down thanks to a joint exercise by local law enforcement. On Wednesday the Jackson County Municipal Court Division of Community Control and Probation staff working with members of the Jackson County Major Crimes Task Force was able to put a meth lab out of business.

During a routine residential home visit by Municipal court probation officers, there was discovered several indicators of what turned out to be a clandestine meth lab. The Jackson County Municipal Court Bailiffs arrested two subjects. Once the first two arrestees were securely in custody, Chief Deputy Bailiff Derek Cales confirmed the existence of a meth lab, and Chief Bailiff D. R. "Ray" Venatter contacted the Major Crimes Task Force. The two forces decided to join in the effort to take down the entire operation. Chief Jim Ephlin and Deputy Keith Copas of the Jackson County Sheriff's Office have specialized training in the handling and removal of meth lab evidence and contaminants.

Over the next five hours, the joint team’s mission consisted of conducting what became a highly mobilized and coordinated team surveillance. The team followed various suspects throughout the area into each and every retail drug store in the City of Jackson . Eight cruisers were used during the surveillance and take down. The team observed, without detection, actual Sudafed purchases at Wal-Mart, CVS, and Walgreen’s. Sudafed is considered the main ingredient in meth production. The team further observed the suspects shoplifting the ether to be used in the cooking operation from the Dollar General Store. Finally, the suspects were observed at Odd Lots purchasing assorted items related to the production of meth. It is suspected that this group of suspects has been manufacturing meth for the past several years.

Once the final items were purchased, the team arrested Christopher Blazer, Jeremiah Green, and one unidentified driver. After all suspects were securely in custody, Cales, Ephlin, Copas and Court EMHA Officer Joann Davis collected materials from the meth lab at the home located at 1256 Glenroy Road , Wellston. Investigator Mike Music interviewed the suspects while the clean up was occurring.

One of the substances involved was a compressed gas designated as Anhydrous Ammonia. It is so highly volatile that Chief Ephlin had to remove it from the home in a departmental reserve Army truck.

Involved throughout the daylong operation were Venatter, Cales, Wes Skaggs and Davis from the Jackson County Municipal Court Department of Community Control, with Chief Deputy Ephlin, and Investigator Music of the Major Crimes Task Force. Additionally, officers involved in the take down and its aftermath were Deputy Sgt. Aric Yates, Deputy Copas, Deputy John Sturgill, Jackson Police Officers Jim Callahan and Steve Sprague and “Fritz” the Drug Dog.