METH RAID NETS 3 PEOPLE, 2 MONKEYS

NEOSHO -- Two ring-tailed lemurs were among those taken into custody this
week when Newton County deputies uncovered a drug-making operation in a
trailer home south of Racine. "Sometimes we find machine guns and sometimes
we find monkeys," Sheriff Ron Doerge said of his department's 11th breakup
of alleged methamphetamine-making operations in the past 30 days.

Four people were arrested as a consequence of the raid Thursday on a mobile
home at 14500 McCracken Road occupied by Clarence Leroy Ackerson, 32, and
Valerie A. Ackerson, 30.

The Ackersons remained in custody Friday on $50,000 bonds. He is charged
with manufacturing a controlled substance. She is charged with attempting
to manufacture a controlled substance.

James C. Hunt, 28, of 2901 S. Park Ave. in Joplin, is charged with felony
possession of a controlled substance and felony possession of drug
paraphernalia. He remained in custody on $15,000 bond.

Sarah E. Hibbert, 20, of Galena, Kan., was written a summons for possession
of a controlled substance and was released.

Clarence Ackerson and an unidentified person ran into the woods when
deputies arrived with a search warrant, authorities said.

Officers later arrested Ackerson at another location.

Chief Deputy Chris Jennings said some finished product was seized and a
setup for making meth found in the trailer's bathroom.

Two loaded weapons also were seized.

The sheriff said the lemurs were in a cage outside the home. He said the
Ackersons do not appear to have a license to own them.

"We didn't think they were being cared for properly either," Doerge said.

He said the lemurs are being tended at an undisclosed location in the county.