News (Media Awareness Project) - US OK: Federal Grant Enables El Reno To Concentrate On Drug Cases |
| Title: | US OK: Federal Grant Enables El Reno To Concentrate On Drug Cases |
| Published On: | 1999-11-29 |
| Source: | Oklahoman, The (OK) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 14:32:34 |
FEDERAL GRANT ENABLES EL RENO TO CONCENTRATE ON DRUG CASES
EL RENO - When it comes to dealing with drug problems, it pays to have
police officers whose sole duty is busting dealers. just ask the El Reno
police.
The department, with funding from a $75,000 federal grant, has arrested 23
people and taken down 14 methamphetamine labs this year. Those funds, plus
$25,000 more from the city, pay the salaries and expenses for El Reno to
have a two-person team that works exclusively on drug investigations.
"This is all were doing, so weve been able to develop our cases more,"
said David Beaty, one of the drug unit investigators.
Beaty, who initiated paperwork on the grant, said he became interested in
forming a drug unit after seeing an increase in crime related to local drug
dealing.
At that time, the major problem in El Reno wasnt meth, but crack cocaine.
Beaty said police investigated four homicides that were directly related to
the crack cocaine trade.
El Reno police worked with federal drug enforcement agents on a November
1998 sting that broke up a drug ring that stretched from El Reno to
Oklahoma City to Houston.
The sting ultimately ended with 25 arrests and a seizure of $200,000 of
drugs, guns and automobiles. It also gave police an idea of how effective
concentrated drug enforcement can be.
In July 1998, police applied for and won a grant to set up a drug
enforcement program. The grant came in time for police to deal with a new
drug explosion - that of methamphetamine.
The Meth Wave
Methamphetamine drugs have been in circulation for years. Developed by
German scientists a century ago, the drugs were later used by German
soldiers and Japanese kamikaze plots to embolden them.
Meth became a recreational drug in the United States during the 1060s, but
has recently grown in popularity during the 1990s. Methamphetamine has
spread rapidly in the Midwest and the West Coast.
Meth has been in Oklahoma and El Reno for years. But local distribution
began in earnest with former Federal Correctional Institution employee Glen
Brummett.
Federal investigators wrapped up a six month investigation in August 1998
by arresting Brummett as he arrived at work. At the same time, other agents
raided his El Reno home.
Brummett was charged with selling meth in the prison. He pleaded guilty in
March and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Beaty said the Brummett case was just the first in a series of busts to
come. So far, none have been bigger than that of Paul Butts.
Police broke up three labs within a one-month span in 1998, with all three
linked to Butts, 43. Butts pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful
manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance and other drug-related
charges and is now serving a 25-year sentence, court records show.
His arrest was a major victory for police. But for every Paul Butts or Glen
Brummett, there are many others waiting to take their place.
Beaty said meth makers, called cooks, usually teach others their trade.
He said each coo0k usually shows 10 others how to make the drug. Making the
drug is easy, as ingredients can be found in common items such as cold
medicine, solvents and fertilizer.
The presence of new dealers was intensified as anti-drug efforts in
Oklahoma City increased. As more arrests were made in bigger cities, the
smaller police presence of Canadian County made it a tempting place to do
business.
Different drug, different users
For police, the meth problem proved to be somewhat less destructive than
crack cocaine. the crack trade often involved gang activity and a loose
organization of manufacturers and sellers. Rivalries between gangs often
led to other crimes.
Breaking up these groups proved difficult but worthwhile for police. Busts
often resulted in seizures of cars, houses, guns and valuables bought with
large amounts of drug money. These items could then be auctioned off to
help fund future investigations.
Meth manufacturers normally dont bring in the volume of cash that crack
dealers do, said El Reno Police Chief Stephen Almon.
In many cases, meth dealers and users are low-income white men with few
assets, Almon said. They operate independently, meaning they are not part
of an organized drug syndicate.
Crimes associated with meth use are a problem, but usually arent as severe
as crack-related crimes.
But investigating meth labs is labor-intensive and risky. Each lab usually
has large quantities of volatile chemicals that can start fires. Twenty
percent of all meth labs are found after house fires, Beaty said. So far,
El Reno hasnt had a meth-related house fire.
Taking a lab down, plus the hours spent developing a case against the labs
operator, is expensive - sometimes $20,000 per lab.
El Renos grant has helped officers learn more about the meth trade.
Federal training taught officers how to detect the labs, develop informants
and even how to make the drug.
The grant is renewable, but has to be renewed every year.
EL RENO - When it comes to dealing with drug problems, it pays to have
police officers whose sole duty is busting dealers. just ask the El Reno
police.
The department, with funding from a $75,000 federal grant, has arrested 23
people and taken down 14 methamphetamine labs this year. Those funds, plus
$25,000 more from the city, pay the salaries and expenses for El Reno to
have a two-person team that works exclusively on drug investigations.
"This is all were doing, so weve been able to develop our cases more,"
said David Beaty, one of the drug unit investigators.
Beaty, who initiated paperwork on the grant, said he became interested in
forming a drug unit after seeing an increase in crime related to local drug
dealing.
At that time, the major problem in El Reno wasnt meth, but crack cocaine.
Beaty said police investigated four homicides that were directly related to
the crack cocaine trade.
El Reno police worked with federal drug enforcement agents on a November
1998 sting that broke up a drug ring that stretched from El Reno to
Oklahoma City to Houston.
The sting ultimately ended with 25 arrests and a seizure of $200,000 of
drugs, guns and automobiles. It also gave police an idea of how effective
concentrated drug enforcement can be.
In July 1998, police applied for and won a grant to set up a drug
enforcement program. The grant came in time for police to deal with a new
drug explosion - that of methamphetamine.
The Meth Wave
Methamphetamine drugs have been in circulation for years. Developed by
German scientists a century ago, the drugs were later used by German
soldiers and Japanese kamikaze plots to embolden them.
Meth became a recreational drug in the United States during the 1060s, but
has recently grown in popularity during the 1990s. Methamphetamine has
spread rapidly in the Midwest and the West Coast.
Meth has been in Oklahoma and El Reno for years. But local distribution
began in earnest with former Federal Correctional Institution employee Glen
Brummett.
Federal investigators wrapped up a six month investigation in August 1998
by arresting Brummett as he arrived at work. At the same time, other agents
raided his El Reno home.
Brummett was charged with selling meth in the prison. He pleaded guilty in
March and was sentenced to eight years in prison.
Beaty said the Brummett case was just the first in a series of busts to
come. So far, none have been bigger than that of Paul Butts.
Police broke up three labs within a one-month span in 1998, with all three
linked to Butts, 43. Butts pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful
manufacture of a controlled dangerous substance and other drug-related
charges and is now serving a 25-year sentence, court records show.
His arrest was a major victory for police. But for every Paul Butts or Glen
Brummett, there are many others waiting to take their place.
Beaty said meth makers, called cooks, usually teach others their trade.
He said each coo0k usually shows 10 others how to make the drug. Making the
drug is easy, as ingredients can be found in common items such as cold
medicine, solvents and fertilizer.
The presence of new dealers was intensified as anti-drug efforts in
Oklahoma City increased. As more arrests were made in bigger cities, the
smaller police presence of Canadian County made it a tempting place to do
business.
Different drug, different users
For police, the meth problem proved to be somewhat less destructive than
crack cocaine. the crack trade often involved gang activity and a loose
organization of manufacturers and sellers. Rivalries between gangs often
led to other crimes.
Breaking up these groups proved difficult but worthwhile for police. Busts
often resulted in seizures of cars, houses, guns and valuables bought with
large amounts of drug money. These items could then be auctioned off to
help fund future investigations.
Meth manufacturers normally dont bring in the volume of cash that crack
dealers do, said El Reno Police Chief Stephen Almon.
In many cases, meth dealers and users are low-income white men with few
assets, Almon said. They operate independently, meaning they are not part
of an organized drug syndicate.
Crimes associated with meth use are a problem, but usually arent as severe
as crack-related crimes.
But investigating meth labs is labor-intensive and risky. Each lab usually
has large quantities of volatile chemicals that can start fires. Twenty
percent of all meth labs are found after house fires, Beaty said. So far,
El Reno hasnt had a meth-related house fire.
Taking a lab down, plus the hours spent developing a case against the labs
operator, is expensive - sometimes $20,000 per lab.
El Renos grant has helped officers learn more about the meth trade.
Federal training taught officers how to detect the labs, develop informants
and even how to make the drug.
The grant is renewable, but has to be renewed every year.
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