Meth lab bust ends in arrests

Brian Smith

Officers of the Central Kentucky Area Drug Task Force and the Madison County Sheriff’s Office raided a methamphetamine lab and seized $5,000 in finished product Monday night in an apartment complex on Berea Road.

The raid happened at the Battlefield Apartments, 3019 Berea Road, just south of the intersection of US 25 and KY 421. Police arrested Christopher A. White, 29, and Amy D. Rogers, 31, at their residence inside Apartment 16 of the complex.

White was charged with: manufacturing methamphetamine, first offense; first-degree possession of a controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia, first offense; trafficking in marijuana, less than eight ounces; possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine; unlawful possession of a methamphetamine precursor, first offense; and violating an emergency protective order.

Rogers was charged with: manufacturing methamphetamine, first offense; first-degree possession of a controlled substance; possession of drug paraphernalia, first offense; possession of marijuana; possession of anhydrous ammonia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine; and possession of a methamphetamine precursor, first offense.

Police raided the home after receiving several anonymous complaints over the weekend, task force director Rick Johnson said.

The search revealed a propane tank filled with anhydrous ammonia, a large quantity of pseudoephedrine tablets, ether, ammonia nitrate and other items commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine as well as approximately 50 grams of a powder believed to be methamphetamine and a half-ounce of marijuana in individual plastic bags, Johnson said.

“It looks like they’re making meth there pretty frequently,” Johnson said. “It looked like he was about to start another cook.”

This lab was the third the task force has uncovered in three weeks, Johnson said.

“Meth production had died down for a while,” Johnson said. “We saw a slowdown in production, but we’re seeing increases since the start of the year.”

Officers were assisted at the scene by Madison County EMS and fire personnel, but the apartment complex was not evacuated.

“We didn’t see anything open that looked explosive,” Johnson said. The bitterly cold temperatures Monday night also contributed to the decision not to evacuate.

White was charged with the protective order violation after officers found Rogers had requested an order in Estill County.

White and Rogers are both being held in the Madison County Detention Center in lieu of $20,000 cash bonds.

Brian Smith may be reached at bsmith@richmondregister.com or at 624-6694.

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