Plantersville man arrested for drug charges again

By Katie Nichols (Contact) | Selma Times-Journal

Published Friday, August 7, 2009

Less than a month after local and area authorities arrested a Plantersville man, they arrested him again on similar charges.

The Dallas County Sheriff’s Department and the Fourth Judicial Drug Task Force arrested and charged Kevin Prough, 40, with criminal conspiracy to manufacture and precursor chemical offenses.

Prough was arrested July 9 during the agencies’ meth lab busts. He was arrested at his residence, 2906-D Angela Place, at the time, and charged with criminal conspiracy unlawful manufacture controlled substance and was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance.

“Kevin Prough was arrested at a residence in Valley Grande where he was working,” Capt. Roy Freine said. “He had in his possession items that are used to cook meth.”

Thursday’s arrest marked the third for drug-related charges — twice with the county and once for possession of a controlled substance with the city.

When Prough was arrested in July, authorities recovered more evidence of a meth lab than Thursday’s arrest.

“At Kevin Prough’s residence we recovered precursors to a meth lab,” Freine said. “He was arrested without incident.”

Once again, he did not attempt to flee.

During the July 10 raid three others were arrested — Christy Anderson, 37; Blake Friday, 34; and Brian McCormick, 30. The county enlisted the help of the Bibb County Sheriff’s Department to clean up the meth labs.

The Bibb County department cleaned up the labs because law requires an agency to be certified in disposing of methamphetamine labs and ingredients.

Freine explained that the ingredients of methamphetamine are unstable and should not be touched by someone who does not have experience in the cleaning process.

“We can’t actually even store the materials in the courthouse,” Freine said. “We are very grateful for Bibb County’s help in cleaning and storing for us.”

Authorities stressed these are the first arrests in a long and ongoing investigation.

“If you are using meth, making meth, selling meth or any other drug you need to move from Selma, Dallas County or the 4th Judicial Circuit,” 4th Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force Commander Larry Colston said.

Deputies placed Prough in the county jail under bonds totaling $20,000. His bond for manufacturing a controlled substance first-degree was less due to the amount of ingredients he allegedly had in his possession at the time of arrest. He made bond and was released. However, now he has bonds totaling $300,000.

“I’m sure the bond was set so much higher than normal because of his recent arrests for the same offenses,” Freine said.

Officers said the methamphetamines on the streets today is not like the old form. The old meth lab took up a lot of space, but the new meth can be made in a small plastic bottle.

The method is called “shake and bake” because that is literally the process. A person only has to combine the ingredients in a certain order, shake the mixture and bake it off. The process means a quicker result without a massive operation.

As of press time, Prough had not made bond and was still in the Dallas County Jail.

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