Post by WaTcHeR on Mar 29, 2006 10:09:10 GMT -5
Officer Brian Dowland
03/29/2006 - CLARKSVILLE, Ind. -- Four people were in custody Tuesday after a meth lab bust in southern Indiana.
In a community of quiet streets and cul de sacs, neighbors get to know each other well -- 12-year-old Mallory Pinnick knows the two boys who live at 2321 Brookwood. "They have a trampoline and I go in the summertime and jump on it with them."
Mallory says one of the boys is "like 15 or 16, and he's really smart. And one of them goes to Parkwood."
On Tuesday Mallory learned something about their father she never would have expected. "I asked my mom and she was like, 'oh, that guy got busted for a meth lab.'"
Mallory says she and her mother watched as police officers cleaned up the remnants of a meth lab. Only hours earlier, detectives had been led to the home by its owner, Brian Dowland.
Police say they arrested Dowland and three other people for dealing the drug after a surveillance operation at an apartment on Hallmark Blvd late Monday. After some questioning, police say Dowland told them where it was being made.
"It appears to us right now that everything they've found leads us to believe that they are manufacturing it some other place besides here, bringing it here to do the last phase, what we call the gassing off stage of the methamphetamine itself," said Indiana State Trooper Josh Banet.
One of the most surprising facts about the meth bust is the neighborhood where it was found. Several police officers live in the area -- and a Clarksville police officer lives right across the street.
Banet says "this just goes to show you that meth labs can be in nice places just like anywhere else."
When detectives arrived at Dowland's home, they immediately evacuated everyone from the home and returned with the Indiana State Police Meth Lab Team to clear the scene.
Dowland is charged with possession of methamphetamine under three grams, dealing in meth under three grams and conspiracy to deal meth.
During the entire operation, detectives confiscated crack, powder cocaine, marijuana, hydrocodone and xanax tablets.
The other three people arrested were:
Christopher Wood, 26 -- aka "Snoop"-- from Clarksville. He's charged with dealing in cocaine, and was also wanted for an outstanding warrant in Clark County.
Daisy L. Judd, 24, from Louisville, is charged with dealing in cocaine.
Lonnie L. Hawkins, 40, from Clarksville, faces charges of meth and conspiracy to sell the drug.
All four could face additional charges.
Dowland's wife and 16-year-old son were at the home when it was raided. Both were taken to the Clark County Division of Family and Children.