Highfill discovers mobile meth lab

— Michael Smith, 34, of Elkins, and Ashton Presley, 21, of Centerton, were arrested April 10 after a mobile meth lab was found in their vehicle parked in the driveway of a home in Highfill.

Smith was wanted on a felony warrant out of Missouri on charges of manufacturing of a controlled substance, according to a press release from the Highfill Police Department. He was found hiding inside a residence at 11881 Smith Street in Highfill and was arrested by Highfill Police Chief Jack Sanders, sergeant Eric Jones and officer Jeremiah Nicholson, the release states.

During the course of the investigation, a mobilemeth lab was found in Smith’s vehicle which was parked in the driveway. Highfill officers, along with Benton County investigator Sheyla Fernandez and State Police investigator Aaron Keith processed the scene, the press release stated.

It was later discovered that Presley was also allegedly involved in the lab and she was also charged. She also had two outstanding warrants with the Bentonville Police Department, the press release stated.

Presley was arrested for her two outstanding warrants and on felony charges of manufacturing a controlled substance with intent to deliver and felony drug paraphernalia.

Presley was being held in the Benton County Jail, with a $12,000 bond, onfelony charges of manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and use or possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and two misdemeanor charges of failure to appear.

Smith is currently being held in the Benton County Jail, with a $37,000 bond, on two charges of manufacturing a controlled substance - in Missouri and Arkansas - possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, all felonies, and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest. Smith was also on parole and will have a parole hold placed on him, the release stated.

Federal grants through the Drug Enforcement Administration to cover thecost of meth lab clean-up have been cut, leaving cities to pick up the expense, Sanders told the city council at the April 12 meeting. Cleaning up a meth lab can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the size, he said.

Sanders told the council he wanted them to be aware of the potential costs the city could face. Since he has been police chief, nine labs have been seized in Highfill, he said.

Despite the costs, getting rid of the meth labs is the only way to keep the crime rate down, he said. When there are meth labs in town, there is also a much higher rate of other crimes such as thefts, he explained.

“I mean it’s here and it’s not going anywhere,” he told the council.

News, Pages 7 on 05/04/2011