Task force stops rolling meth lab'

By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
April 22, 2004
A Toomsuba woman and a Biloxi man remain in the Lauderdale County Jail today after East Mississippi Drug Task Force agents uncovered evidence of a "rolling meth lab" in a pickup truck.
The Dodge pickup truck was stopped Wednesday, about 2:30 p.m., at Highway 19 North and Highway 496 in Lauderdale County.
Arrested were: the driver of the truck, Eric S. Haley, 33, of 2620 Lejune Drive, Biloxi; and Laurie A. Barrett, 27, of 2221 Alamucha Whynot Road, Toomsuba, who was taken into custody later at her home.
The vehicle was stopped after task force agent Karl Merchant received a tip from his twin brother, DeKalb Police Chief Kirk Merchant, that a vehicle possibly delivering a large shipment of crystal methamphetamine was headed to Meridian.
After getting a description of the vehicle, Merchant said task force agents set up surveillance and spotted it.
Barrett, who was under house arrest for a previous charge, was arrested for conspiracy to manufacture crystal methamphetamine about 4:30 p.m. Merchant said agents recovered evidence at the house.
The pickup truck was inventoried by task force agent Chris Swanner.
Merchant said evidence found in the truck included more than an ounce of crystal meth powder with an estimated street value of $4,000-$5,000, an electric blower like those used in meth labs to remove strong odors, heat lamps like those used in meth labs to dry the powder quickly, chemicals used to "cook" methamphetamine, scales, syringes and other items.
Barrett and Haley are expected to be formally charged today with conspiracy to manufacture crystal methamphetamine.
Haley is expected to face additional charges of possession of two or more precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and possession of more than an ounce of crystal methamphetamine with intent to distribute.