HOUSTON COUNTY, TX (KTRE) -
Methamphetamine labs are a
growing problem for law enforcement around the country, and stopping them is a
challenge for local officials. Houston County officials hopes a training
program will help law enforcement be better prepared to tackle the problem.
East Texas News got a first-hand
look at the exercise and how it helps local officials.
"Meth is a problem," G.P.
Shearer, the chief deputy for the Houston County Sheriff's Office, said. "It's
not just a localized problem, it's a state problem, it's a national problem,
but here in our area it is a widely used drug."
That is the reason, Houston County officials
held this mock meth lab bust today in Crockett. The exercise allowed for
officers to enter a situation and safely dispose of the methamphetamine.
Course trainers explained how household
items can make this explosive drug. How explosive?
Before East Texas News arrived, one of the
bottles used to for the chemicals used in the training exercise exploded.
The course was put on by Merit
Group, a Pennsylvania-based group that specializes in dealing with
metaphor. The instructors have enormous amounts of knowledge and even
first-hand experience with meth.
"I was arrested for precurse of
chemicals, and done my time, and met with a gentleman from Merit named Jake and
took the program from there," Doug McWilliams, an instructor with the Merit
Group, said.
The Merit Group's instructors and
trainers brought with them knowledge that has traveled around much of the
United States.
"We've trained in 32 states, and
we've trained officers from 40 states right now, Jake Kelton, the owner of the
Merit Group, said.
Meth labs have become a serious
problem in Houston County. That's why law enforcement officials hope these
training exercises help them catch the criminals.
"These people, they're the heroes out there,
the fire department, the police officers," Kelton said. "It's a tribute to this
agency that they take a proactive stance against these meth cooks."
McDaniels gave a warning to
methamphetamine cooks.
"These guys know what they're
doing," McDaniels said.
Copyright 2012 KTRE. All rights reserved.
