AUTHORITIES SHUT DOWN DRUG LABS, MAKE ARRESTS

BARTLESVILLE -- It was a busy week for Washington County's drug task force,
which made several arrests, raked in $135,000 worth of methamphetamine and
helped shut down one of the biggest drug laboratories in the state.

The 11th Judicial Drug Task Force began Monday with three arrests during a
10 a.m. search of a residence on South Keeler in Bartlesville. Officers
recovered one-fourth pound of marijuana, cash and drug paraphernalia.
Residents Donnie Howard and Janie Howard were arrested for possession of
marijuana with intent to distribute, authorities said.

Joyce Jean Kent also was arrested at the residence for possession of
marijuana and paraphernalia, police said.

More than 16 grams of methamphetamine, a small amount of marijuana, cash
and drug paraphernalia were recovered in an 8:35 p.m. Monday ``buy bust''
at 186th Street North and U.S. 75 in Washington County, according to the
task force.

Arrested there were Ted Harold and Steve Stokes, who are charged with
distribution of methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute and
possession of paraphernalia, authorities said.

Another arrest came at 9 p.m. Tuesday when the task force served a search
warrant at Southeast 20th Street and found methamphetamine, marijuana, cash
and drug paraphernalia. Resident Debra Ann Thornburg was arrested for
possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, police said.

More arrests are expected from the 20th Street bust, which included
assistance from the sheriff's office, Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and
Dangerous Drugs, Department of Corrections and Bartlesville police.

In another raid, the task force arrested Bartlesville resident Bob Roberts
for distribution of methamphetamine on Thursday -- the second drug-related
arrest for him in one month, police said.

The task force recovered methamphetamine, cash and drug paraphernalia in
the 1:45 a.m. ``buy bust'' of Roberts at Cherokee Avenue and Adams
Boulevard, authorities said.