Components from a methamphetamine laboratory sit outside a mini warehouse waiting to be inventoried before being confiscated as evidence in the second methamphetamine lab to be discovered in the county in two weeks.
Contributed photo
by Al Summers
News Editor
alsummers@timescourier.com
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Components from a methamphetamine laboratory sit outside a mini warehouse waiting to be inventoried before being confiscated as evidence in the second methamphetamine lab to be discovered in the county in two weeks.
Contributed photo
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Gilmer County is known as the apple capital of Georgia, but law officers and drug enforcement officers might soon have another label for the mountain county – home of the methamphetamine laboratories – after an inactive lab was discovered, and confiscated, last Friday, Sept. 10. So far, five people have been arrested in connection with the lab.
According to Chief Det. Stacy Nicholson of the Gilmer County Sheriff’s Dept., Gilmer County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives were executing a search warrant at a business on Hwy. 282 last Friday in search of the illegal drug.
After methamphetamine was found at the scene, officers arrested James Cameron Hinson, 34, of Ellijay, and he was charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute. Also arrested and charged with possession of methamphetamine were Joshua Brandon Brock, 23, of Carrolton, Brooke Fernander, 28, of Talking Rock, Leesha Davis, 28, of Ellijay, and Kenneth Jason Krause, 29, of Ellijay.
During the execution of the warrant, Krause was identified as being the subject of an investigation of the Zell Miller Mountain Parkway Drug Task Force (DTF). Further information developed at the scene led to the DTF being called in to assist in the case and obtaining a search warrant for a mini warehouse.
The mini warehouse warrant was executed later Friday night, and components of the inactive laboratory were found. Evidence suggested the lab had recently been in operation. Krause will also be charged with the manufacture of methamphetamine.
The lab recovered Friday was the fifth lab this year that has been confiscated in Gilmer County.
Cmdr. Chris Romine of the DTF said he felt like a dent was being made in the manufacture and distribution of methamphetamine in the county, but, “it is still a wide-spread problem law officers will continue to combat.”