Grundy County, Tenn., meth probe nets arrests, shuts down nine labs

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

photo Meth tile

APRIL TO JULY ARRESTS• Daniel Kilgore, 37, Monteagle, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Cecelia Nunley, 44, Monteagle, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• James Jenkins, 43, Monteagle, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Jeff Jenkins, 47, Monteagle, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Beatrice Nolan, 62, Tracy City, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• William Cannon, 48, Monteagle, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Chris King, 42, Beersheba, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Amanda King, 34, Altamont, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Justin Barks, 25, Beersheba, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Teesha Manley, 20, Tracy City, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• Casey James, 33, Gruetli-Laager, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• Cody Hill, 3, Tracy City, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• Lee Anderson, 28, Tracy City, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Jammy Curtis, 37, South Pittsburg, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine, criminal conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine• Amanda Comer, 31, Altamont, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Joseph Wideman, 33, of Palmer, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• Heather King, 34, Palmer, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• Paul G. Curtis, 49, Coalmont, criminal conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine• John H. Hobbs, 27, Altamont, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing and initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Patrick Killian, 26, Beersheba, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• Tiffany Allen, 37, Palmer, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Dale Callahan, 44, Palmer, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Shawn Allen, 40, Palmer, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Catherine McGee, 25, Tracy City, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing and initiation of the process to manufacture methamphetamine• Nicholas Callahan, 22, Palmer, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• Candice Gilliam, 23, Tracy City, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• Zach Rymer, 26, Altamont, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing, methamphetamine manufacturing• Jessica Dockery, 23, Tracy City, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• Donnie Nolan, 45, Palmer, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturing• Jeremy Hill, 35, Tracy City, methamphetamine manufacturing, promotion of methamphetamine manufacturingSource: Grundy County Sheriff's Office

Grundy County, Tenn., deputies have rounded up more than 40 people during a two-month investigation that netted nine suspected methamphetamine labs from one end of the county to the other.

Sheriff's office spokesman Dave Hodges said investigators in the probe that began in April used data on pseudoephedrine purchases that revealed an "extensive network of Smurfs," the people who collect pseudoephedrine-based cold medicine for meth cooks to use to make the illegal drug.

The network spanned "all corners of the county" and included labs set up in "nice homes, run-down campers, and several out in the woods," Hodges said.

Officials called the numbers of people involved in the small rural county "startling."

Officials said the investigation makes the case for recent efforts to curb pseudoephedrine-based cold medicine sales through local ordinances, referring to towns in neighboring Franklin County where ordinances have been passed to require a doctor's prescription to get the drug.

12th Judicial District Attorney General Mike Taylor says the new rules in Franklin should help but might elicit a court challenge eventually.

"One thing's for sure, if you don't have 'psuedo,' you don't have meth," Taylor said last week.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Chattanooga Times Free Press.