POLICE MAY PUT STORES ON METH ALERT

Police say it is legal for stores to contact them in a case of "suspicious"
purchases.

Iowa City and Coralville police say they may soon work more closely with
area retail stores to help their fight against methamphetamine manufacturers.

A statewide increase in meth production and use is the reason that police
want to educate store employees on how to recognize customers who are
making suspicious purchases, said Lt. Ron Wenman of the Coralville police.

"Anything we can do to work together to fix these issues is great," he
said, adding that Coralville police would be willing to train store
employees on how to recognize questionable persons.

"At some point, we might start approaching these businesses," he said. "The
more people that have the training, the better."

Iowa City police Sgt. Doug Hart also said it would be beneficial for police
to work with the stores.

Since March, four Iowa City residents have been arrested after employees of
Cub Foods and the Coralville Wal-Mart reported that the individuals had
allegedly purchased large quantities of products used in the manufacture of
meth. The four are now facing meth-related charges, but they may never have
been caught if not for the knowledge of some of the stores' employees.

According to the Iowa Narcotics Division Web site, 658 methamphetamine labs
were discovered last year in the state, up from 502 in 1999. The drug, also
known as "speed" and "crystal," is a highly addictive central-nervous
system stimulant that enhances a person's mood and body movement.

Not only should store security officials, or loss-prevention teams,
familiarize themselves with methamphetamine ingredients, but other retail
workers, such as cashiers, should have some knowledge concerning the drug,
Wenman said. Meth ingredients commonly bought in stores include aluminum
foil, lithium batteries, and steel wool.

Wenman advised people to be aware of individuals purchasing a considerable
number of one item and/or a combination of products considered ingredients
for meth to pinpoint possible manufacturers of the drug. This may be
difficult, though, he said, because some may stop at several different
stores to gather the materials.

Iowa City residents Dale Fleming, 41, and Jeremy Perkins, 30, were arrested
June 22 after they allegedly admitted to visiting three Iowa City stores to
buy 18 boxes of cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine, a component of meth.

Cub Foods, 855 Highway 1 W., was one of Fleming's and Perkin's stops, court
reports show. Manager Mike Route said it is important for employees to
receive training to help police capture possible meth producers. Between
one and two security officers are on the clock throughout the day, Route said.

Coralville's Wal-Mart Supercenter, 2801 Commerce Drive, had a similar
situation in March, in which Iowa City residents Tammy Koehn and Michael
Dooley were arrested. A Wal-Mart employee alerted police of their alleged
purchase, according to court reports.

"We're trying to be a good neighbor," said Chad Rainwater, the store
manager at Wal-Mart. "We feel the need to help the police."

Rainwater declined to comment on the number of security officers in the
store, but he said the employees have received some training from the
Coralville police Narcotics Division. Repeat-buying patterns of regular
customers is a sign they are told to look for, Rainwater said.

As for innocent customers being mistakenly accused, Wenman said, "I can't
say that doesn't happen. But most people don't have a problem [being
questioned] if they have nothing to hide."

The practice of stores contacting police when they have suspicions is
legal, Hart said.

"They still have a right to call us about a suspicious act, as does
anybody," he said, adding that the Iowa City police receive a few calls of
that nature each year. "They're doing it more as a service to the community."