PICAYUNE — Six months into the year and the Pearl River County’s Sheriff’s Department is leading the coastal region in finding and closing methamphetamine labs.
Since January of this year the department has sent in 72 methamphetamine labs for analysis to the Mississippi Crime Lab, said Director Sam Howell.
Harrison County is just behind Pearl River County, turning in 60 labs so far this year, Howell said. The crime lab director said Pearl River County has a very active law enforcement agency that is doing a good job of finding the labs.
Howell said the Mississippi Crime lab has seen a large increase in number of clandestine labs submitted to the Gulfport office. He attributes the increase in labs sent in to the crime lab to the increased activity of law enforcement agencies in the southern region.
“They’ve made a concerted effort to work on the problem,” Howell said.
The region includes George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Pearl River and Stone Counties.
Pearl River County Sheriff David Allison said he is proud of his narcotics agents for their efforts. He said their success would not be possible without members of the community notifying the department of strange smells in the area. Allison said concerned residents who notice strange chemical smells, such as ammonia, should call the department. If deputies and investigators go out to the area and smell what they suspect to be a methamphetamine lab, it will give them probable cause to check the area.
Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier said the majority of the labs the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department has found are “shake and bake” labs. Those kind of labs are popular because they are less complicated, utilize a quick method of production and the ingredients are readily available. Saucier said the team of narcotics agents at the Sheriff’s Department are making strides in reducing the number of active labs.
Not only does the presence of a lab create a health hazard, since they are known to explode on occasion, they are costly and time consuming to clean up. Saucier said that every time a lab is found the Sheriff’s Department does the preliminary work to make the area safe and calls the Drug Enforcement Agency to send out a Hazardous Materials team. That whole process of cleaning up a lab takes anywhere from six to 10 hours.
Methamphetamine use has been known to have a number of short and long term effects. Short term effects include decreased appetite and sleep and an increase in euphoria, attention and respiration. Long term effects include paranoia, hallucinations, memory loss, weight loss and severe dental problems, according to http://www.nida.nih.gov/ResearchReports/Methamph/methamph3.html#short.
“It’s amazing what that drug will do to you,” Allison said.
Some long term users have been known to age in appearance. Allison said he is familiar with a woman who has been arrested several times in the past three years by the Sheriff’s Department. While she is only in her mid 20s, Allison said she appears to be in her 60s, with gray hair and wrinkles.
County residents who have or know someone with a drug problem, including methamphetamine use, are encouraged to seek help. Pearl River County has a drug rehabilitation program through the Chancery Court office. Allison said that program is state funded and can help addicts get off the drugs.
Local News
PRCSO leads in coastal meth busts
- Local News
-
- Council discusses which funds to spend first On the same day as the ground breaking for the addition to the historic City Hall, city council members discussed which funds to spend first in its construction.
-
Poplarville aldermen honor Holliday, get audit report briefing
The city board of aldermen honored former District Three Supervisor Hudson Holliday at its Tuesday night meeting.
Mayor Billy Spiers presented Holliday with a framed resolution of appreciation for his dedication and service to the city while serving as county supervisor.
-
MRI INSTALLED
This $1.2 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment was installed at the new location of Highland Community Hospital.
-
Hall suspected of robbery after escaping
A man who escaped from jail after attending his father’s wake is suspected of having carried out an armed robbery on the Texas-Arkansas state line. Johnny Hall escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday while attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
-
City Hall expansion groundbreaking held
A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday at the construction site for the expansion of the historic Picayune City Hall. “You can see our future when you look down Goodyear Boulevard. You see Chimney Square, our high school, The Link at First Baptist Church, Jack Read Park and then our historic City Hall.
-
PRC athletic director says he’ll recommend random drug testing
Pearl River Central athletic director Andy Kivlan told the school board at its Monday night meeting that he will most likely recommend that students participating in extracurricular activities, including band and ROTC, be subject to random drug screening.
-
Supervisors adopt resolution encouraging more economic development in South Miss.
Following a short presentation by State Sen. Tony Smith (R-Picayune), the board of supervisors adopted on Monday a resolution encouraging state officials and agencies to exercise “fairness and parity” regarding location of new industries in Mississippi.
-
MDEQ wants comprehensive waste disposal plan from county
The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality has told Pearl River County it wants a comprehensive waste disposal plan for the county. Supervisors indicated at their Monday meeting that they are not happy with the request.
-
Police: Powell planned deadly fire for some time
Josh Powell planned the deadly house fire that killed him and his young sons for some time, dropping toys at charities and sending final emails to multiple acquaintances before the blaze, authorities said Monday.
-
Bar fight ends in man being run over
A bar fight Friday morning resulted in one man being run over by the other with a pickup truck.
The fight was reported to Picayune Police officers Friday morning at about 1:44 at the American Legion Hall on Union School Road, said Capt. Chad Dorn. - More Local News Headlines
Man Killed in Courthouse Shootout
Video of Ga. Man Who Killed Girl Released
Air Force Airlines: Leaders Get Polished Service
Ga Girl Fights Off Kidnapper at Walmart
Nevada Highway Patrol, City Settle Beating Case
White House Attacks Romney on Birth Control
Homs Bombardment Continues, Global Outcry Grows
Mo. Teen Gets Life Sentence for Killing Girl, 9
Lower-hassle Screening to Be Tested at Airports
Raw Video: Dog Rescued From Icy Colo. Water
Helmet Camera Captures Calif. Fire Rescue
Worker Tells 911: Powell 'exploded the House'
Triple Win: Santorum Takes Minn., Mo., Colo.
Injured Marine Inspired by Homecoming
No Rape Charges Against Son of NYPD Commissioner
Egypt's Ruling Generals Play Risky Game With US
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
