Pubdate: Tue, 22 Oct 2002
Source: Daily Post-Athenian (TN)
Copyright: 2002 East Tennessee Network - R.A.I.D. (Regionalized Access Internet
Contact:  http://dpa.xtn.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1673
Author: Ben Benton, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

MOONSHINE STILL FOUND, CALHOUN POLICE CHIEF SAYS

Calhoun Police Chief Chris Nicholson said this morning the serving of a 
warrant Monday night stemming from a weekend incident involving juveniles 
led authorities to the discovery of a suspected moonshine still near 
Calhoun Elementary School.

Nicholson said an arrest in the investigation is pending after officers 
located the still, a resalable amount of suspected marijuana and 
prescription drugs, three to four gallons of suspected "white lightning" 
and a number of weapons.

The police chief said the still was the first he had seen.

Nicholson said the mother of a juvenile who was reportedly at the residence 
over the weekend approached police with information concerning a possible 
charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Nicholson said when he and other officers arrived at the residence to serve 
the warrant for contributing to the delinquency of a minor, he smelled a 
chemical odor he initially associated with methamphetamine labs.

Nicholson said there was suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia in 
plain view, as well.

"As I stepped in the hallway and looked, from what I could see it looked 
like a methamphetamine lab was assembled," Nicholson said.

"At that time I backed out of the residence and took (the man) and the 
other officers out of the house," he said. "I said, 'I think it's a meth 
lab' and he (the man allegedly living at the residence) said, 'It's not a 
meth lab; it's a moonshine still.'"

Nicholson said the man was mirandized and asked for written consent for a 
search. Nicholson said the man agreed to the search.

"(The man) told us if we didn't shut the heat source down, the still would 
explode," Nicholson said, noting he appreciated the warning from the man.

The Calhoun Fire Department was called to respond to the scene in case a 
fire erupted, he said.

Authorities seized the components of the suspected still, three or four 
gallons of suspected moonshine, several different prescriptions drugs, drug 
paraphernalia and several weapons, including a shotgun, several rifles and 
a handgun, Nicholson said.

Police said there were no children inside the residence at the time but 
Nicholson noted, "about an hour before there was a basketball game going on 
at the school."

Nicholson said from what he could determine from some paperwork found at 
the home, the suspected moonshine still had been in operation for some time.

"Kids are our greatest resource and I'm not going to tolerate kids being 
taken advantage of just because they don't know any better," Nicholson said.

Nicholson said warrants had been issued on charges of contributing to the 
delinquency of a minor, possession of an illegal moonshine still, 
manufacturing an alcoholic beverage, possession of drug paraphernalia, 
possession of marijuana for resale, possession of prescription drugs for 
resale and violation of the Drug Free School Zone Act, in connection with 
the proximity of the alleged still to the school.

Nicholson said he would be consulting with the District Attorney's office 
regarding further actions in the investigation.
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