News

More meth labs could start showing up

March 28th, 2008 @ 10:04pm

Article courtesy of www.KLS.com

Courtney Orton reporting

Three meth labs busted in two Southern Utah cities in just one day. That's not typical, considering that narcotics officers seized only three meth labs in Utah all last year. But Utah could start seeing more meth labs pop up again.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the number of meth labs in Utah has decreased in the last several years and so has the drug's quality. That's the reason narcotics officers believe users will again start making their own at home.

Brad, with the Washington County Drug Task Force says, "They want to use good stuff. So they might start to cook their own again and just make small amounts for their personal use."

That's what Washington County narcotics officers say was going on inside a home on Rocky Road in an upscale St. George neighborhood and at another home in Bloomington Hills. "When the parents were gone, they would set up their cook and cook their meth at the house without the parents being aware of it," Brad said.

When officers entered the home's garage, they were overcome by fumes and had to be rushed to the hospital. The man authorities think was cooking meth at the house is still at large, but police arrested a couple of his friends.

Forty-four-year-old David Acampora was arrested at another home in Bloomington Hills after officers found meth lab equipment, chemicals and the finished product in his possession. And 24-year-old Tamitha Hamill was arrested when police found the same thing at her home in Santa Clara.

"These are the first labs we've had in southern Utah in the last two years," Brad said.

It's the result of new laws that restrict access to ephedrine and pseudoephedrine, the drugs essential to manufacturing methamphetamine. Drug officers say when users can't get their hands on those drugs, they'll try just about anything. "This time they had cough syrup that had some pseudoephedrine in it. I've never seen them extract pseudoephedrine from it, but they might start to try," Brad said.

The price of meth is also up. Today an ounce costs more than $1,600 compared to the $700 price tag meth had in years past. Drug Task Force officers say that is another reason these mom-and-pop type meth labs could start popping up.

E-mail: corton@ksl.com

BRIDE & GROOM VOW TO HELP METH COPS

A bride and groom hope the happiest day of their lives will help save the lives of police officers who have been exposed to the deadly chemicals found in methamphetamine labs. Stan Eggen and fiancé Tammy Wright are turning their wedding into a fund raiser for the Utah Narcotics Officers Association Benevolent Fund and Utah Meth Cops Project.

Their wedding invitation includes this request: "In lieu of gifts, we wish to raise funds and bring awareness to the police officers who have sacrificed their health and lost their lives from exposure to methamphetamine labs while in the line of duty."

"We have a toaster, we have enough things," says Tammy Wright.

"We want to use this day to celebrate the love we have but also to help these officers stay healthy and let people know we care about them."

Stan Eggen was a founding member of the Utah County Major Crimes Task Force. The retired Provo City police officer says nearly every member of the task force has suffered health problems and some died after being exposed to meth labs.

"You see bad guys coming but we didn’t see this coming," says Eggen. "I’ve been a cop all my life and I want to give back to my brothers who are paying the price."

Eggen says the deaths of two friends hit very close to home:

Utah County Detective Trent Halladay was 37 years old when he

died of liver cancer in 2006. Halladay was exposed to chemicals while breaking up 150 meth labs.

Midvale Detective Jose Argueta was 32 when he died of esophageal

cancer in 2006. Argueta was also exposed to chemicals while shutting down hundreds of meth labs.

The couple saw the news about Attorney General Mark Shurtleff working with Senator Chris Buttars and the Utah Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice on a new treatment program for narcotics officers.

They contacted the A.G.’s Office to find out where to send donations.

"What could be more selfless than giving up your wedding day to help others?" asks Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. "My hope is that other Utahns will follow their example and help those who have put their lives on the line to protect us."

More information about the charities can be found at www.unoa.org or www.utah-detox.org. The couple’s photos are at http://attorneygeneral.utah.gov/PrRel/prdecember052007.htm.

Wedding was Friday, December 14, 2007