MOONSHINE STILL FOUND, CALHOUN POLICE CHIEF SAYS

Calhoun Police Chief Chris Nicholson said this morning the serving of a
warrant Monday night stemming from a weekend incident involving juveniles
led authorities to the discovery of a suspected moonshine still near
Calhoun Elementary School.

Nicholson said an arrest in the investigation is pending after officers
located the still, a resalable amount of suspected marijuana and
prescription drugs, three to four gallons of suspected "white lightning"
and a number of weapons.

The police chief said the still was the first he had seen.

Nicholson said the mother of a juvenile who was reportedly at the residence
over the weekend approached police with information concerning a possible
charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Nicholson said when he and other officers arrived at the residence to serve
the warrant for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, he smelled a
chemical odor he initially associated with methamphetamine labs.

Nicholson said there was suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia in
plain view, as well.

"As I stepped in the hallway and looked, from what I could see it looked
like a methamphetamine lab was assembled," Nicholson said.

"At that time I backed out of the residence and took (the man) and the
other officers out of the house," he said. "I said, 'I think it's a meth
lab' and he (the man allegedly living at the residence) said, 'It's not a
meth lab; it's a moonshine still.'"

Nicholson said the man was mirandized and asked for written consent for a
search. Nicholson said the man agreed to the search.

"(The man) told us if we didn't shut the heat source down, the still would
explode," Nicholson said, noting he appreciated the warning from the man.

The Calhoun Fire Department was called to respond to the scene in case a
fire erupted, he said.

Authorities seized the components of the suspected still, three or four
gallons of suspected moonshine, several different prescriptions drugs, drug
paraphernalia and several weapons, including a shotgun, several rifles and
a handgun, Nicholson said.

Police said there were no children inside the residence at the time but
Nicholson noted, "about an hour before there was a basketball game going on
at the school."

Nicholson said from what he could determine from some paperwork found at
the home, the suspected moonshine still had been in operation for some time.

"Kids are our greatest resource and I'm not going to tolerate kids being
taken advantage of just because they don't know any better," Nicholson said.

Nicholson said warrants had been issued on charges of contributing to the
delinquency of a minor, possession of an illegal moonshine still,
manufacturing an alcoholic beverage, possession of drug paraphernalia,
possession of marijuana for resale, possession of prescription drugs for
resale and violation of the Drug Free School Zone Act, in connection with
the proximity of the alleged still to the school.

Nicholson said he would be consulting with the District Attorney's office
regarding further actions in the investigation.