This past Sunday afternoon, around 4:30, officers from the San Saba Police Department carried out a search at 501 West Pierce Street in San Saba. Chief Riggs, along with Officers Brown, Barclift, Shaw, and McGehee, and Deputy Boswell, conducted a search of a residence in an attempt to shut down another illegal methamphetamine lab. Items and chemicals consistent with the illegal manufacturing of methamphetamine were discovered in different stages as well as what appeared to be anhydrous ammonia in an unsafe container and a hydrogen chlorine generator.

The search was stopped and assistance from the Department of Public Safety (DPS) narcotics team was requested. Two agents were dispatched out of Austin as well as a clean-up team out of San Antonio.

The agents confirmed the presence of an illegal lab. The clean-up team arrived, safely collected the chemicals, and transported them to a disposal site. In addition, the presence of anhydrous was tested and confirmed at the scene.

A federal grant from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) pays for the clean-up of illegal meth labs in our area. A normal clean-up of even the smallest of labs can cost $15,000 to $40,000 or even higher. All of the chemicals involved are general household chemicals, but when mixed together, they can become quite volatile and often deadly.

A female suspect, Antonia Anselma Monroe, was arrested at the scene for Possession of Anhydrous Ammonia, Possession of a Controlled Substance <1 gram, and Child Endangerment. A warrant for the arrest of two male suspects will be requested and their names are being withheld until their arrest in the near future. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Officer Brown would like to thank the DPS Narcotics and DEA agents for their assistance, as well as two of our local firemen, James Jones and John Whitney. One meth lab here in San Saba can tie up an entire department, including EMS and Fire departments, for a long period of time.

We have been very lucky and have had no injuries during our searches and raids. Yet, it is just a matter of time, unless we continue to be aggressive in our pursuit of those individuals who are cooking, selling, and/or using illegal narcotics. You can't have one without the other, and we will pursue and push for prosecution on all narcotic charges.