Pubdate: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 Source: Birmingham News, The (AL) Copyright: 2003 The Birmingham News Contact: http://al.com/birminghamnews/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45 Author: Vivi Abrams, News staff writer Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) METH LAB TOOLS FOUND IN DORM Two students and a young man were being held on drug charges Wednesday after police found methamphetamine lab equipment in a University of Alabama at Birmingham residence hall. University police arrested Sarah Suzanne Forrest, 21, of Boynton Beach, Fla.; Derrick Michael Vann, 22, of Trussville; and James William Phillips, 23, of Hueytown, Tuesday night on charges of possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. Police turned the case over to the Drug Enforcement Administration on Wednesday morning. Forrest is a junior with an undeclared major and Phillips is studying biology at UAB. UAB police were alerted after someone reported Forrest smoking in her non-smoking room. Birmingham DEA agent Greg Borland said the clandestine response team found glassware, chemicals and other materials used in making methamphetamine in the suite. Included were two three-neck flasks which are illegal to possess and carry a minimum sentence of five years upon conviction, he said. The instruments appeared to have been used to make methamphetamine recently, Borland said. The DEA also found marijuana, cocaine, prescription drugs and other controlled substances in the third-floor room at 1001 14th St. South. "We take this matter very seriously," said Dell Turndough, spokeswoman for UAB. "The safety of our students is our No. 1 concern." Borland said the U.S. attorney's office will decide whether to prosecute the case at the federal level. Vann has previous arrests for public intoxication and drug possession, according to state court records. Methamphetamine, a highly addictive stimulant, has grown in popularity throughout Alabama over the last few years. One attraction is that it is fairly easy to cook in a makeshift lab, using commonly found chemicals. Borland said he doesn't recall any other cases of drug labs at area universities. "This is a couple of knuckleheads who had access to materials and a recipe," he said. "The fact that they are students is irrelevant. They just have a lot more opportunities in life than the average drug (maker)." Students who live in the residence hall said they were shocked. The hall, built in 2001, serves 114 students of all ages, said hall manager Phil Ford. "It really scares me," said Roland Harris, 20, a sophomore who lives at Blount Hall. "We think this is a safe environment." Santeria Quinnie, 19, said she feels UAB gives students a false sense of security. "They've got locks on the doors, but if the bad people are in there with you, what's the use of the locks?" asked Quinnie, an education major from Mobile. "We pay too much rent to have drug addicts here." Steven Bolden, 20, a business major from Mobile, said the lab was on his floor. He said there is no resident assistant on his part of the floor. The students said they were surprised and upset by the drugs in their home. "I mean, we have smoking rooms ..." Bolden said. "But we don't have crack rooms," Harris said. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D