Published: October 12, 2007 05:48 pm      

Meth lab raided

Local law enforcement officers help 40 federal agents

DUNCAN — Local law enforcement officers assisted 40 federal agents in executing a search warrant on a suspected meth lab in rural Stephens County early Thursday morning.

By mid-afternoon, two local men were under arrest, including one man who crashed his vehicle into a fence while trying to escape, and officers had seized a meth lab that nearly met the Drug Enforcement Agency’s criteria of a “super lab.”

However, the raid also signaled the beginning of the end of a three-year long investigation; a joint effort between the Stephens County Sheriff’s Department, Duncan Police Department, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the DEA.

“The end is now in sight,” summed up Stephens County Sheriff’s Narcotics Investigator Rodney Richards.

Officials had not planned to make any arrests during Thursday morning’s search, said Richards.

“We were going to wait until federal indictments were filed, but due to the magnitude of what was found today, we were just not comfortable with letting them walk off,” Richards explained.

Arrested were Stephens County residents William “Bill” Jefferson Turner Jr., 44, and Russell Simmons, 38.

The warrant was served at Turner’s home in a rural area just east of Bray. Richards said a meth lab was set up in a mobile home or camper behind the main residence.

Richards said agents had planned to begin the search at 4 a.m. to avoid any confrontation.

“We tried to catch them while they were asleep, but they were already up and cooking,” he said.

When officers moved in, Simmons ran out to a vehicle and tried to escape.

“But he crashed at the end of a pasture when trying to run through a fence,” said the sheriff’s deputy.

According to the report, 12 pounds of liquid methamphetamine and at least 11 firearms were recovered, along with other evidence.

“The whole property was littered with trash and debris. We found lots of anhydrous tanks, stored illegally, and lots of chemicals.

“All were within access of a child living in the middle of all of it.” The elementary school-aged child was placed into protective custody, said Richards.

Both Turner and Simmons spent Thursday night in Stephens County Jail, and will make their initial court appearances in Stephens County District Court this afternoon.

Richards said Turner will be charged with aggravated manufacturing of a controlled dangerous substance and child endangerment and Simmons will be charged with manufacturing.

Federal firearms charges may be filed by the ATF at a later date.

More arrests are expected after the accumulated evidence is presented to a grand jury, said the investigator.

“Our plans now are to spend the next few weeks getting the reports together to present to the grand jury for indictments,” said Richards.

“This is the beginning of the end of a three-year process.”

Richards described the lab discovered during the raid as a large one.

“As cops, we talk about super labs,” he said. “This one was right on the borderline of meeting criteria of a super lab. In fact, from what we can tell, two days ago, Turner was probably in the middle of a super lab. This set-up was capable of producing multiple pound-type cooks.”

Richards said the ATF’s special response team was used to execute the warrant due to the number of guns involved.

An unexpected bonus for law enforcement officials was that during the search, cell phones at the site continued to ring as potential buyers called to set up a drug purchase. Four other individuals were encountered at the scene, although no arrests were made.

Richards said the discovery of a meth lab three years ago that was about the same size as the one found Thursday initiated the overall investigation.

“I’m glad it’s finally winding down,” he said.