Police bust meth lab
Published 12:00 am Friday, January 30, 2004
A Dallas County man arrested on Wednesday for possessing and manufacturing methamphetamines currently sits in the Dallas County Jail after receiving a $50,000 bond.
Dallas County Sheriff’s Department deputies arrested Edward Beers, 35, around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday after stopping his car at the intersection of Alabama Highway 80 and Kings Bend Road. According to Assistant Chief Deputy Wayne Odom, Beers had been under investigation.
The Selma Police Department narcotics unit, the Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Fourth Judicial Circuit drug task force unit assisted in the investigation.
Deputies transported Beers to the Dallas County Jail where he was held with no bond until Thursday when Dallas County District Court Judge Nathaniel Walker handed down the $50,000 bond.
Investigating authorities obtained a search warrant for Beers’ residence, 617 County Rd. 316, and executed the warrant around 4:45 p.m. Wednesday. According to Odom, authorities discovered a well-organized methamphetamines laboratory on the second floor. &uot;I could guarantee that he could sit there blind-folded and cook meth,&uot; Odom said.
Authorities also found about three ounces of methamphetamines as well as about two ounces of methamphetamine oil, which is used to make the finished product.
Computer equipment and about 10 firearms were also discovered.
Odom estimated the street value of the drugs at about $3,000.
Law enforcement authorities left the scene while a Birmingham-based hazardous materials unit arrived to disassemble the laboratory. &uot;It was just too dangerous for us to dismantle it,&uot; Odom noted.
Odom returned to the jail and charged Beers with unlawful manufacturing of methamphetamines first degree.
Beers received his bond after a Thursday hearing involving Fourth Judicial Circuit District Attorney Ed Greene and local attorney Joseph Hagood, who is representing Beers. Greene requested a $200,000 bond, but only received $50,000.
Beers’ preliminary hearing is set for mid-February.