Search uncovers Sikeston meth lab

SIKESTON, Mo. -- The Scott County Sheriff's Department seized a methamphetamine lab Wednesday night in what officers called a rare bust.

According to a news release from the sheriff's office, Teren H. Eskew, 31, and Jack W. Hargraves Jr., 39, both of Sikeston, were arrested in connection with the lab. Bond for each was set at $75,000.

"Even though we are not finding many working labs, we are still making an active effort to control and eliminate the manufacture of controlled substances within our area," Sheriff Rick Walter said in a prepared statement.

The bust was unusual because a state law restricting the sale of pseudoephedrine -- a chemical found in cold medicines that can also be used to make meth -- has caused many people to stop manufacturing, Detective Branden Caid said. Instead, they import the drug from other states.

Since the law was enacted in July 2005, Missouri has seen a 49 percent decrease in methamphetamine lab seizures.

Detectives received an anonymous tip that a suspicious odor was coming from Eskew's residence on County Road 405.

According to the news release, they went to the house and smelled an odor commonly associated with the production of methamphetamine. Eskew granted them permission to search the property. The search revealed a lab that was producing the drug at the time of the search, the release said.

Among the items detectives seized were coolers, wire cutters, a plastic spatula, punctured cans of starter fluid, a glass jar containing a pink and blue rocklike substance, empty cold pill packets and Drano crystals, Caid said.

Components of the lab were scattered throughout the yard.

After one officer nearly passed out from the fumes emanating from one of the containers, the suspects were asked to warn detectives if anything else in the yard was dangerous, Caid said. One of the them warned officers not to touch the one-gallon sprayer bottle because it would "probably eat your hand off if you get it on you," Caid said.

The sprayer turned out to contained a homemade substitute for anhydrous ammonia composed of lye pellet, ammonium nitrate and liquid propane.

Both suspects were charged with attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture or distribute a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and child endangerment.

The last charge was filed because two juveniles, a 1-year-old and a 15-year-old, had been at home at the time, Caid said.

The children had also been left at home alone earlier that evening while the suspects went to Wal-Mart to purchase Drano, he said.

In 2002 and 2006, Hargraves pleaded guilty to felony nonsupport. He pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful use of drug paraphernalia in 2006.

Eskew pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of chemicals with intent to manufacture and distribute in 2004.

bdicosmo@semissourian.com

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