Police finding toxic meth trash

by Ed Ernstes (ernstes@wsbt.com)

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Police report finding the toxic byproducts of meth labs in city trash cans and along county roads. (WSBT file photo)

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: May 8, 2008 at 10:27 AM EST

Story Updated: May 11, 2008 at 10:22 AM EST

ELKHART — We've all seen it before. You're driving along and there's trash all on the side of the road. But what police in Elkhart County are seeing is much more than just trash; they're finding discarded ingredients to make meth.

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A potentially dangerous and even deadly situation is popping up more and more in Elkhart County.

"It comes in as a trash call, there were some suspicious materials. We go out there and we find out that it’s actually byproducts of a meth lab,” said Capt. Sean Holmes with the Elkhart County police.

And it's not just in the county.

Elkhart city police recently arrested a suspected meth dealer who dumped his used meth lab into his neighbor’s city trash can.

“They find the items in the garbage that are precursors to making meth,” described Elkhart Police Lt. Ed Windbigler. “[We] go back and talk to the subject who threw them in there and end up making an arrest."

Frank Owens, an Elkhart police officer, is also a member of the Benton Township Fire Department. His department is dealing with more cases of finding meth trash along the country roads.

“These chemicals are very toxic, to inhale the fumes. They're very caustic, they'll burn your skin if you get it on you,” Owens explained. “And some of the times there's residue of methamphetamine and you can get that on your skin and that can be absorbed. You have to be very careful because it can cause a major health problem for you."

Police say if you see suspicious looking trash, just leave it alone and don't touch it.

"They should stay away from it and call us,” Holmes said. “There is a crime if we can prove that someone has dumped the byproducts."

Last month alone, police report at least six cases where meth ingredients were dumped along the roads. They say if you're caught dumping this so-called trash, you'll face a felony charge of meth possession.

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