©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Residents Learn About Dangers Associated with Methamphetamine |
Local law enforcement officials are attempting to get the public to at least know what to look for, in order to determine if an illegal drug might be a problem in their neighborhood.
The City of Galesburg and the Knox County Sheriffs Department hosted a methamphetamine awareness seminar at the Galesburg Community Center. Participants were shown about the several ways meth is typically made, and what is often used in their production -- things like lithium batteries, anhydrous ammonia, cold pills, and, in some cases, matchbooks.
Knox County Sheriff David Clague - who's also vice-chairman of the Peoria Multi-County Narcotics Enforcement Group - says the year isn't half-over yet, and already meth and suspected meth labs have kept his deputies almost too busy.
"Just since the first of the year, Knox County alone has done search warrants at twelve active meth labs in the county. It's something that's not going to go away, it's been here for a hundred years - a hundred plus years - and all we can do is take care of our own community whether it's city or whether it's the county and we have to have the utmost cooperation from you folks."
Clague says his deputies, with assistance from MEG and the Illinois State Police Meth Response Team, have also investigated 50 various, what are called, "dump sites" since the beginning of the year - places where things like anhydrous ammonia used in meth production are made.
Clague and others urged the community to make sure they call police if they have a suspicion of seeing meth production happen. He says even if you don't see squad cars at a location you suspect of housing a meth lab, that doesn't mean they aren't patrolling.
(Knox County Sheriff David Clague speaks to a meeting on methamphetamine awareness Thursday at the Galesburg Community Center.)
(This is what Illinois State Police officials say a lithium battery used in meth production can look like after it's been used. WGIL News Story and Photos by Will Stevenson.) |
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| 05 14 09 by Newsroom |
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