State police hear Ashland residents’ meth concerns (Pennsylvania)

By Rodney L. Sherman, Clarion News Editor

ASHLAND TWP. -- Ashland Township residents told a state police representative March 9 they are concerned about crime in the township but stressed worries about methamphetamine production.

Last month state police discovered an alleged methamphetamine lab along Whitehill Road . The alleged operators of that lab allegedly dumped chemicals from the manufacture of the drug and waste by-products before police arrived.

Pennsylvania State Police Sgt. Kevin Doverspike, commander of at the Clarion barracks, attended the March 9 meeting of the Ashland Township Board of Supervisors as part of his community outreach policy.

Referring to the methamphetamine case, supervisor Cecil Cochran said a nearby resident of the alleged lab is pregnant. Cochran asked if township officials could be immediately notified of incidents during which actions such as the dumping of methamphetamine chemicals and waste is dumped.

Cochran said township officials are likely to know if anyone near such an incident should be evacuated.

“I think that’s a good idea,” said Doverspike. “We can add that to our response protocol.”

Doverspike said the state police have a “clandestine laboratory response team” to handle methamphetamine labs.

“If you think one of your neighbors is cooking meth, we need to know about it,” said Doverspike. “Your identity will not be revealed. Meth is dangerous stuff and we take any reports of it very seriously.”

http://www2.theclarionnews.com/General_News/51932.shtml