Two more meth labs discovered

Two more methamphetamine labs have been uncovered by Bedford County deputies -- except this time, authorities weren't even looking for the source of the dangerous drug.

Officers who had been dispatched on matters unrelated to meth stumbled upon the labs, ending up making three arrests, and came away with a damaged patrol car as well.

"This war on meth ....we've got a long road ahead," Det. Sgt. David Sakich of the Bedford County Sheriff Department said.

"They think they can use this stuff once or twice and be done with it, but it's the strongest thing out there," Sakich said, speaking of the drug's addictive nature.

Last Thursday, Det. Sgt. David Sakich, Deputies Garcia Jordan and Kevin Holton and Reserve Deputy Monte Moore went to 808 Frank Martin Road to serve a warrant on a person who frequently stays at the residence.

However, while knocking on the door, Holton noticed a gallon jug of muractic acid in front of the residence and two containers of Coleman fuel beside the trailer, two of the key ingredients of a meth lab.

The officers spoke to the owner of the residence, Jeremy Martin Hambrick, 34, to ask him about the subject of the warrant, who Hambrick said was there the previous night but had left.

Sakich then asked about the items out in the open that can be used for producing meth, but Hambrick allegedly stated "it wasn't his, that people leave stuff at his place." Hambrick then gave officers consent to search the residence and property.

Officers found cold packs, muratic acid, Coleman fuel, blister packs with psuedoephedrine, lithium batteries, and coffee filters, which are considered precursors used to manufacture meth, as well as a pipe to smoke meth. Also found on the property were several burn pits that contained precursors.

Hambrick was charged with promotion of methamphetamine manufacture and is being held on $30,000 bond. An appearance is scheduled in General Sessions Court on Nov. 25.

"He knew about it and did nothing to stop it," Sakich said of the alleged activity on Hambrick's property.

Another meth lab was uncovered Sunday after Holton received a call from Cpl. Rick Gann that bondsman Carlos Alvarado was following Daniel Albert Stuper, 21, who had a felony failure to appear warrant issued on him.

Holton confirmed through Bedford County dispatch that the warrant was active and responded to Sims Road, where he allegedly saw a green Honda Civic backing out of a driveway and striking the front of Alvarado's truck.

The deputy said he activated his emergency lights in an attempt to stop Stuper, who allegedly ran his car partially into a ditch and past the patrol car but while swerving around the deputy, hit the patrol car instead.

Holton's report says that Stuper then got out of the car and ran with the deputy chasing him. Holton eventually caught Stuper behind a Sims Road residence and took him into custody.

However, when Holton searched Stuper's car, he discovered all the components of a meth lab.

A passenger in the car, Beth Ann Damon, 21, of McMinnville said she didn't know what was going on and claimed she had no knowledge of the items found and had known Stuper for only a week.

However, a search of Damon's purse allegedly revealed two straws with a white powdery residue, which Damon said was meth she had used the week before.

Sakich later interviewed Damon and Stuper about the incident, with Damon claiming she and Stuper bought lye at the Piggly Wiggly in Unionville and knew that Stuper was going to cook some meth. She also admitted to removing psuedoephedrine from the blister packs before she requested an attorney. Stuper refused to talk to Sakich.

Stuper was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, initiation of a process resulting in meth, promotion of meth manufacture, evading arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to appear. He is being held under $155,500 bond and will appear in General Session court on Nov. 25.

Damon was charged with initiation of a process resulting in meth, promotion of meth manufacture, and possession of drug paraphernalia and is being held on $30,500 bond and will appear in General Session court on Nov. 25.

As for tracking down the meth labs, Sakich said that the sheriff's department "will not stop" hunting down the makers of the dangerous drug.

"We've got to get a grip on this stuff and we've got a long road ahead of us, but we're going to do what it takes," Sakich said.