Lexington County Law Enforcement Serious About Drug Crimes and Busts in the New Year
The law enforcement officers in Lexington County, South Carolina, began a serious campaign last fall to round up meth lab criminals for manufacturing and/or distributing methamphetamines. It is a new year, but officers are still serious about drug crimes, especially with meth labs.
In January, police discovered several meth labs throughout Lexington County and arrested the owners for drug crimes.
The Latest Meth Labs Drug Crimes News from Lexington County
On Tuesday, January 22nd, deputies responded to a call at 3:40 AM about a suspicious car parked in the driveway of a home on Sugar Loaf Road, near Gaston, SC. The 2011 Nissan Versa did not belong to the home’s owners, and when officers arrived to inspect the vehicle, they could smell meth’s particular odor coming from the car. Upon further investigation, the police discovered a couple inside the car – James and Emmalee Doar – and found drug paraphernalia scattered around them, which officers believe to be associated with a mobile meth lab.
The Doars were detained until officers from the Lexington County Multi-Narcotics Enforcement Team could arrive. The couple is currently being held at Lexington County Detention Center on drug crimes charges, awaiting a bond hearing.
Also, on Tuesday, January 22nd, Lexington County Law Enforcement arrested two men in West Columbia for operating a meth lab out of an unoccupied house. Officers received a tip and went to the home at 5:30 PM. Deputies smelled the particularly strong chemical odor associated with meth labs. Roger Allan Lee, 34 from Gaston, and Charles Richard Richter, 32 of Wadmalaw, came out of the house after the police arrived. Deputies then executed a search warrant on the residence, after contacting Lexington County Multi-Narcotics Enforcement Team for assistance. They found a one-liter plastic soda bottle on the front porch, which was actively being used as a reaction vessel.
The two were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, very serious drug crime in South Carolina. They await bond hearings at the Lexington County Detention Center.
On Thursday, January 24th, officers with Lexington County Multi-Narcotics Enforcement Team and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department arrested three people after they discovered a meth lab in a shed. Michael Paul Dixon, 24, and Christopher Edward Dubose, 30, were charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, while 35-year-old Wendy Lee Gantt was charged with possession. Officers received a tip that a meth lab was being operated out of their residence on Southbound Road, and investigated at about 4:30 AM. Again, the officers could smell the strong chemical odor of methamphetamines being manufactured in the house. Deputies found Dixon and Dubose in the shed – Dixon was holding a clear glass jar that contained a white substance at the bottom. There was also a clear plastic bottle in the shed being used as a reaction vessel. The two men were placed under investigative detention for drug crimes.
Officers then searched the house and found Dixon’s girlfriend, Gantt, asleep. They found a meth lab in the residence and charged Gantt with possession.
The three are being held in Lexington County Detention Center and await bond hearings.
The Strom Law Firm Can Help with Drug Crimes Charges in Lexington County
Drug crime charges and drug busts in South Carolina are very serious. If you have been charged with possession, trafficking, or manufacturing drugs, the criminal defense attorneys at the Strom Law Firm can help. We offer free, confidential consultations to discuss the facts of your case, so contact us today by calling (803)252-4800.
Contact Our Drug Charges Lawyer Today
Strom Law Firm, LLC was founded in 1996 by former United States Attorney and Richland County Assistant Solicitor, Pete Strom. We have a team of dedicated lawyers and paralegals who will fight for your rights. We work with a robust roster of investigators, experts, and research resources who can help build a strong and vigorous case on your behalf. Call today for a free consultation with a drug charges lawyer.
