Six arrested in connection with alleged Perry County meth labs

PERRYVILLE, Mo. -- The Perry County Sheriff's Department closed what Sheriff Gary Schaaf called the biggest meth producer in Perry County and arrested six people, including one wanted in St. Francois and Jefferson counties on felony warrants.

Shortly after 1 p.m. Friday, deputies joined by members of the SEMO Drug Task Force, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency and the Perryville Police Department, raided the home of Gerald Burroughs at 6755 N. Kings­highway in Perryville. The meth operation was noticed by a deputy on routine patrol early Friday morning, Schaaf said in a news release.

When officers arrived with a search warrant, they found two operating meth labs in the residence, Schaaf said. The bond for all six suspects was set between $10,000 and $50,000, with a cash-only requirement.

Those arrested, and the charges filed by Perry County Prosecuting Attorney Thomas Hoeh, are:

Michael Wood

Pamela Merriman

James Cochran

Jeremy Merriman

• Gerald Burroughs, 69, of Perryville. Burroughs was charged with a single felony count of manufacturing a controlled substance. His bond was set at $25,000.
• James S. Cochran, 40, no address given. Cochran was charged with a single felony count of possession of a controlled substance and his bond was set at $50,000. Cochran was wanted on a warrant from Jefferson County for failure to appear for a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance and St. Francois County warrants for felony resisting arrest and misdemeanor harassment.
• Jeremy L. Merriman, 32, of St. Mary, Mo. He was charged with a single felony count of providing reagents, solvents or precursor materials with intent to produce methamphetamine and his bond was set at $10,000. Merriman was on probation for felony robbery.
• Brittany N. Smith, 21, of Perryville. Smith was charged with a single felony count of manufacture of methamphetamine and her bond was set at $25,000.
• Pamela J. Merriman, 47, of St. Mary. She was charged with a single felony count of manufacturing methamphetamine. Her bond was set at $50,000.
• Michael J. Wood, 34. of Perryville. He was charged with a single felony count of manufacture of methamphetamine and his bond was set at $50,000.

Schaaf thanked the agencies that cooperated with his department to raid the lab. "There were a lot of things to sieze and document, and everyone worked together superbly," Schaaf said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

Brittany Smith

388-3642

Pertinent address:

6755 N. Kingshighway, Perryville, MO

Gerald Burroughs