BUSINESSES ALERTED TO ITEMS USED FOR METH

Morgan County Officers Distributing Posters To Stem Sale Of Drug's Ingredients.

Mark Pearson had no idea he might be unwittingly adding to the boom in
methamphetamine production in Indiana.

But he learned last week that his business, Pearson Brothers NAPA in
Martinsville, sells many of the ingredients used to make the illegal drug.

His eyes were opened by an educational outreach program of the Morgan
County Sheriff's Department, which is distributing informational posters to
businesses that sell the items known as "precursors."

"I had no idea of the things they use," said Pearson. "We sell some of the
stuff and we use some of it, too."

The Sheriff's Department effort is part of a statewide campaign of the
Indiana Drug Enforcement Association, a nonprofit organization that
promotes cooperation and communication among local, state and federal
narcotics officers.

Pearson isn't alone in his ignorance about the drug, said Gary Ashenfelter,
training director for IDEA.

"Most people, unfortunately, don't know anything about how methamphetamine
is made," he said. "That's why we are trying to get this information out."

Precursors can be purchased almost anywhere: grocery stores, pharmacies,
large department stores, farm supply centers, and even smaller businesses
like Pearson's auto parts and repair shop.

The legal items -- including ether, over-the-counter cold medications,
lithium batteries, drain cleaners, lye, acetone, plastic tubing and coffee
filters -- can be combined relatively easily to create the potent and
profitable drug.

And that is prompting wannabe chemists to "cook" batches of
methamphetamine, pounds at a time, in makeshift laboratories set up in
homes, garages and motel rooms. In December, Avon police found a meth lab
in a car they stopped on U.S. 36.

Because methamphetamine is cheap and easy to make, production and use have
skyrocketed in Indiana in the past three years, said Ashenfelter.

"It's out of control," he said. "Every year the number of labs
(investigators find) is doubling. We'll probably take down 800 labs in
Indiana this year."

A bill that would increase penalties for meth users and manufacturers to
match those for crack cocaine and other illegal narcotics is awaiting the
signature of Gov. Frank O'Bannon.

If he signs it, the law will create penalties for transporting and storing
chemicals to make meth.

But not everyone is so high on the idea of posting the ingredients on the
walls of stores.

"I think there is a basic problem with the concept of government or law
enforcement putting private citizens in the position of 'snitching' on each
other," said Indianapolis attorney and civil libertarian Stephen Dillon.

"There is nothing in American history, tradition or religious history to
encourage people to snitch on each other. I think it is wrong and shouldn't
be encouraged."

Law enforcement officials disagree.

First Sgt. David Phelps, who heads the Indiana State Police clandestine lab
team, said public awareness is key to stemming the flood of methamphetamine
production.

"It's kind of like a revolving door. Law enforcement has to know what's
going on, and they have to educate the public. Then the public has to tell
police when they see something suspicious," he said.

Phelps said awareness efforts have been very successful in western Indiana.
"The State Police post in Terre Haute is now getting calls on an almost
daily basis."

Morgan County officials launched their campaign because they have seen an
increase in methamphetamine use and related crimes, said Detective Larry
Sanders.

He said a couple of labs have been discovered in the county, and a number
of burglars arrested recently had the drug on them.

Testimony in a Morgan County murder trial last month also revealed that
methamphetamine fueled the dispute that led to the fatal shooting of a
Brooklyn man in November.

Sheriff Charlie Beaver hopes the proactive approach will pay dividends.

"If we can bring about some more public awareness, maybe it will help us
identify some people operating meth labs," Beaver said. "We're asking
merchants to keep their eyes open and help us by letting us know if they
see something suspicious."

The key for merchants, he said, is to watch for people buying large
quantities of the items.

"It may be immaterial if someone is buying one of the items by itself,"
Beaver said. "But if they are buying them in large quantities or
repeatedly, it should send up a red flag."

Pearson said he doesn't think he's had any customers buying items to
manufacture methamphetamine, but he said he's more than happy to keep an
eye out for suspicious activity.

Sanders said the week-old program already has deterred at least one
suspicious purchase at another store in Morgan County.

"We got a call from one place where we took a poster, and they said two
guys walked in and picked up several precursors, but when they saw the
poster they put the stuff down and left."