One Arrested At Site Of Meth Lab

September 2, 2004

A Robbins man faces multiple charges, including manufacturing methamphetamine, stemming from an August 26 investigation at a Sheppard Road residence in Oneida.

According to an arrest warrant obtained from court records, Richard Douglas Galloway, age 36, of 134 Shirley Ford Road in Robbins, was arrested in the late evening hours of Thursday, August 26, after officers from the Scott County Sheriff's Department and Oneida Police Department arrived at a Sheppard Road residence to investigate an anonymous tip that methamphetamine was being manufactured at the site.

The warrant states that Scott County Sheriff's Department Drug Agent Anthony Phillips "noticed an extremely strong chemical smell about the residence," upon officers' arrival. The document alleges that the officers could see Galloway "pouring stuff into a container in the kitchen/living room floor."

After knocking on the door and identifying themselves, the warrant states that officers "entered (the) residence and quickly removed the defendant from the residence, due to the overwhelming chemical odors coming from the containers the defendant was tending."

Galloway was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, felony possession of drug paraphernalia and simple possession of marijuana. He was placed in a "paper suit" to avoid contamination to the Sheriff Department's squad car and was transported to the Scott County Jail.

In addition to the Scott County Sheriff's Department and Oneida Police Department, the Southeast-Tennessee Methamphetamine Task Froce was called to the scene, along with units from the Oneida Fire Department. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was also notified. The meth task force remained on the scene throughout most of the overnight hours, completing the clean-up and decontamination efforts.

According to the arrest warrant, .10 gram of a "green plant material," believed to be marijuana, was taken from the residence, along with two-to-eight grams of "meth cathinone," a meth cathinone lab, mason jars, coffee filters, turkey baster, charcoal lighter fluid, Ephedrine, Coleman lanters, Coleman hot plate, seven coolers and various other containers.

Among thos responding to the residence were Phillips, Robert Reed, Marc Lackey, Larry Lay and Chief Deputy Marty Carson of the Scott County Sherrif's Department, along with Gerry Garrett and Mark Watters from the Oneida Police Department.

Galloway was placed under $50,000 bond secure.

Methamphetamine is viewed as a growing problem in Scott County and throughout Tennessee. The issue was cast into the spotlight locally after a November 2003 raid at an Oneida residence that led to the accidental shooting death of Sheriff's Department Deputy John-John Yancey.

news@ihoneida.com

Enjoy the Independent Herald? Have it delivered to your door! Click here for details.