METH SURGE SHOCKS CHIEF

Deadly Drug Gaining Favor In Rural Areas

MONTROSE - Dennis Smalley saw plenty of drugs when he worked as a
police officer on the streets of Flint.

Crack, cocaine and marijuana - you name it.

But even he is unnerved by the increasing foothold that
methamphetamine seems to be gaining in rural Genesee County.

"This other stuff is a whole new ballgame," said Smalley, the acting
police chief in Montrose Township.

A toxic brew that is incredibly addictive and fairly easy to make,
methamphetamine was uncommon in this area a few years ago.

No longer, police say.

Since September, two meth labs have been busted in Montrose and
Montrose Township - a cause for concern for area police.

The volatile cooking process can be highly explosive and requires
potentially deadly chemicals like ammonia and drain cleaner.

Police raids on such labs sometimes require officers to wear
hazardous materials suits over their bullet-proof vests.

"If you breathe this stuff, it can kill you," said Smalley.

While cocaine and marijuana keep urban police departments busy,
methamphetamine cooks seem to be drawn to more rural areas like Montrose.

Why? One reason, say police, is easier access to anhydrous ammonia -
an ingredient that often must be stolen from farms or agricultural
supply stores.

Lt. Gary Parsons of the state police, commander of the Flint Area
Narcotics Group, said Montrose and other rural areas may also be
attractive because they are quiet and have less police presence than
larger communities.

"They set up shop and think they can get away with it," Parsons said.

In September, police found a meth lab in a mobile home park off
Vienna Road in Montrose Township. This month, another lab was found
in a home on E. Maple Street in Montrose.

Police don't believe there was any connection between the labs but
said both were capable of making enough meth to suggest it was for
more than just the cooks' personal use.

"It looks like (meth) is getting more prevalent," said Parsons,
adding that another lab was busted in Mt. Morris Township this month.

On the plus side, said Parsons, police are getting more tips from
people worried about suspected meth labs in their neighborhood.

"Nobody appreciates a meth lab sitting next to them," said Parsons.