Pubdate: Sun, 02 Mar 2008 Source: Messenger, The (IA) Copyright: 2008 Ogden Newspapers Inc Contact: http://www.messengernews.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4710 Author: John Molseed Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) TASK FORCE FOCUS IS DRUGS 'We Don't Always Boast,' Says Pd Boss The most common question area law enforcement officials hear from the public about drugs is: Why aren't you doing anything? In a Friday presentation, representatives of the Fort Dodge Police Department, the Webster County Sheriff's Department and the Iowa State Patrol responded. They emphasized what has been a recent push to crack down on drugs - especially methamphetamine. "Law enforcement is taking a big hit on not doing enough on drug enforcement," said acting Fort Dodge Police Chief Doug Utley. The agencies have teamed up to form the Fort Dodge Webster County Narcotics Task Force. The task force has conducted more than a dozen searches and made several arrests this year. Members say they want to let the public hear about their accomplishments. "We don't always boast about our accomplishments," said Utley, admitting that, because of their nature, drug investigations are secretive and that can be frustrating for people providing police tips. Narcotics investigator Deputy Mike Halligan presented a list of people convicted in federal court of drug offenses. Most recently Leodan Vasquez, 31, was convicted of conspiracy to distribute meth and possession of meth with the intent to distribute. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in federal prison on the conviction. Evidence in his trial showed Vasquez and others conspired to distribute more than 500 grams of meth from June 2006 until his arrest August 2007. On Jan. 8, the task force made another major dent in the area drug trade with the arrest of Nikki Rae Kurtzuba, 27. She is alleged to have distributed more than 150 pounds of meth in the area over a six-month to one-year period leading to her arrest. She is awaiting trial in federal court in Sioux City. Currently 17 people are awaiting trial in federal court on charges stemming from investigations by the task force. Another 15 cases are being actively investigated, said Halligan. "We've put a large dent in the amount of methamphetamine coming into Fort Dodge," he said. Meth isn't the only drug officials are cracking down on. Task force and Division of Narcotics Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Administration task force from Sioux City, and K9 units from the Iowa State Patrol and the sheriff's offices in Webster and Wright counties executed seven search warrants simultaneously in Fort Dodge Jan. 30. Demetrius Gully, 27, LaMarcus Lamar Gully, 22, and Jeremy Dupree Terrell, 19, were taken into custody by the U.S. marshal's office and now face federal charges of distributing crack cocaine. "We're going to make it very difficult for anyone who wants to sell drugs here," said Webster County Sheriff Brian Mickelson. Two new sheriff's deputies have been added to the office to work drug cases. The office also received funding for a second canine unit to work narcotics. Also joining the task force is a state analyst who keeps track of dealers and their networks for investigators. The county added $100,000 to sheriff's office budget to make those moves possible. "We do know in fact we have a drug problem in Webster County," said Supervisor Greg Nolting. "We want to do something about it." The push has also caught some statewide attention. Gary Kendell, director of the governor's office of drug control policy, attended the presentation and said he was glad to see Fort Dodge area law enforcement taking an initiative against meth. He noted that anecdotal reports of the street value of meth in Fort Dodge is lower than state average. An ounce of meth goes for about $900 in Fort Dodge compared to about $1,200 in Des Moines, he said. "What that tells us is there's too much of it here," Kendell said. The push against dealers is double-edged sword, Kendell added. Manufacturing of meth declined when a new law made pseudoephedrine, an ingredient in cold medicine that is used to make meth was classified as a controlled substance and limited its sale. Now manufacturers go to multiple stores to buy their limit and meth labs are on the rise again. "It's a good news-bad news situation," Kendell said. "Fort Dodge is a microcosm of that." As if on cue, shortly after the presentation, task force members entered a home at 2658 Fourth Ave. N. on a narcotics search warrant. Agents on the scene allegedly found materials used for making meth in the home. Tips from dealers and citizens led investigators to the house. "Citizen involvement is key," Utley said. "That's usually where it starts." Even if does take months to conclude. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom