| March 11,
2002 |
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| Meth Lab
Produced 1.4 Million Dollars, SBI Says |
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| 4.3 pounds of liquid crystal methamphetamine was
seized from a home-made laboratory at an eastern Burke County motel, according
to the N.C. State Bureau of Investigation. The crystal meth, or "crank" as it
is commonly known on the streets, is worth an estimated $1.4 million dollars.
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| According to Burke County Sheriff John T.
McDevitt, Deputy Sgt. Craig Treadway and Deputy Joey Wesson went to Lowman's
Motor Court off of Highway 64-70 in Hildebran around 11:30 P.M. Friday after
receiving information that Rodger Andrew Hallam (right), 33, of #3 Forest Hill Court, Granite Falls was
in room number 20. McDevitt said Caldwell County held warrants on Hallam for
assault with a deadly weapon and communicating threats. |
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McDevitt said Treadway and
Wesson knocked on the motel room door, which was answered by Hallam. Officers
entered the room and located another man, who was later identified as
35-year-old James Noel McMullen, Jr. (right),
sitting on a couch. On a nearby bed was a gun and two bags of marijuana,
according to McDevitt.
Treadway and Wesson placed both men under arrest
and contacted investigators with the Burke County Narcotics Task Force after
reportedly witnessing other signs of illicit drug usage in the room, including
white powder residue and razor blades. |
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A Task Force investigator, who asked not to
be identified, said he entered the motel room and noticed a strong chemical
odor. After receiving consent to search, the investigator reportedly discovered
chemical scales (see photo, left) inside a
refrigerator. |
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The detective stated he
opened a cabinet door under the sink and located a blue plastic box (see photo, right).
"Inside the box appeared to be a
clandestine laboratory for manufacturing crystal meth," the investigator said.
"We immediately cleared the room and began evacuating the motel, because of the
risk of these chemicals exploding due to their highly volatile nature. We also
had the gas to the motel turned off." |
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| Investigators contacted the State Bureau of
Investigation, who has a specialty unit trained in disassembling clandestine
laboratories, McDevitt said. |
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| McDevitt said when the motel room was deemed
safe, detectives found recipes for cooking crystal methamphetamine and other
paraphernalia, along with both finished and unfinished forms of the drug.
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| In addition to Hallam and McMullen being charged
with possession with intent to sell and deliver crystal methamphetamine and
maintaining a place for controlled substances, McDevitt said McMullen is wanted
nationally by the state of Georgia on other crystal meth related charges.
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| Other charges are pending, including the
trafficking of crystal meth, said a Task Force investigator. |
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| McDevitt had praise for the deputies who located
the men and their operation, and also gave kudos for the quick actions of Burke
County Narcotic Task Force investigators. |
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| "When you're dealing with a potentially
explosive laboratory operating in an uncontrolled environment, you have to take
all precautions," McDevitt said. "I'm glad we were able to put these men out of
business without anyone being injured." |
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| Hallam and McMullen were jailed under $100,000
secured bonds and will have a first court appearance today. |
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| ************************************************************** |
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