Three area men arrested in meth lab

BENTON, Mo. -- Two Scott City men and a Benton man were arrested Sunday by sheriff's deputies and Scott City police as the three suspects dismantled a meth lab.

The arrests occurred at 701 Wall St. in Scott City as the three men attempted to flush chemicals from the meth lab down the toilet, Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter said.

Arrested were Clayton Crowden, 28, occupant of the home; Jerry Decker, 30, of 608 Main St. in Scott City, and George Hale, 32, of Benton.

They were all charged with attempting to manufacture methamphetamine, possession of ephedrine, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bond has been set at $75,000 each, Walter said Monday afternoon.

While on patrol Sunday, two Scott City police officers drove by the Wall Street residence. They smelled a strong odor of ether. They notified detectives who had been investigating drug activity at that address.

Walter said law enforcement officials decided to end the two-month investigation conducted by the sheriff's department and Scott City police.