UNION — Two people have been arrested and a third is being sought for allegedly manufacturing methamphetamine and then illegally disposing of the waste.
Kayla Leree Murphy, 22, 105 Partridge Road, Union, and Dontey Jerome Gory, 28, 2539 Meansville Road, Jonesville, are each charged by the Union Public Safety Department with manufacturing methamphetamine and unlawful disposal of methamphetamine waste.
The incident report stated that based on their investigation and information from a confidential informant, narcotics officers obtained a search warrant and served it at Murphy’s home Monday afternoon.
When officers entered the house, they found Murphy and Gory along with another woman and two other men. They also found several items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Public Safety Director Sam White said Wednesday morning that the items included empty containers, discarded batteries, and Ephedrine packages. White said the containers are used to cook and store the methamphetamine. He said the lithium in the batteries are extracted to help cook the drug and Ephedrine is one of the ingredients.
The other three people were released, but Murphy and Gory were detained and questioned about the items. Murphy and Gory both said they knew that a third person had been making methamphetamine in the house.
Officers were unable to obtain consent to search the house, but based on Murphy and Gory’s statements they were able to obtain a search warrant.
“The first warrant was for the outbuildings on the property,” White said. “The second warrant was for the house itself. Warrants have to be specific about the areas to be searched.”
In the ensuing search of the house, officers found several more items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. White said the items included empty Ephedrine packages, coffee filters, batteries, and an empty 20 ounce bottle by the carport door to the house. He said the bottle and the other empty containers it is what led to Murphy and Gory being charged with unlawful disposal of methamphetamine waste.
“The bottle was empty and so were the other containers,” White said. “So they obviously disposed of the contents, either by pouring them down the sink or out on the ground. Either one of those is dangerous because that stuff is flammable. If it is not disposed of properly it can result in a chemical reaction that can cause an explosion or fire. Plus, they are carcinogenic.”
White said in the course of the investigation leading up to the search and the arrests, officers learned that Murphy had been purchasing Ephedrine. He said while they were at the house, officers did a check on Gory and learned he’d been blocked from purchasing Ephedrine on several occasions because he’d purchase more 9 grams within 30 days. Since it can be used to make methamphetamine, White said the law permits the purchase of no more than 9 grams of Ephedrine a month.
During questioning, White said Gory told officers that he’d purchased Ephedrine for the person he and Murphy said was making the methamphetamine. He also said that he and Murphy had smoked the substance.
White said Murphy and Gory were still in jail as of Wednesday morning and that officers are searching for the person they said was manufacturing the methamphetamine.
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