BELLA VISTA -- It's been almost two years since police in Bella Vista and Bentonville say they have worked a methamphetamine lab.
On Tuesday, Bella Vista police, assisted by the Bentonville Police Department, searched a home at 56 Billingsley Drive and discovered an active methamphetamine lab, according to a news release.
Anthony Wayne Dunham, 50, was arrested in connection with manufacturing of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a controlled substance for methamphetamine and prescription pills, possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate certain crimes, distribution near certain facilities (within 1,000 feet of a church) and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, the release stated.
Bella Vista Det. Ed Williams obtained a search warrant after he received a tip. Inside the house, police found narcotics, marijuana, a small amount of methamphetamine, methamphetamine that was cooking, eight soda bottles that were used to make meth and multiple paraphernalia items, the release stated.
The lab utilized the one-pot method, and the methamphetamine was cooking in a two-liter soda bottle. Bentonville Cpl. Andy Ball and Lt. Tony Marveggio, who are both certified in identifying and securing methamphetamine labs, assisted in the lab cleanup. Materials are stored temporarily in a safe pod by the Arkansas State Police and the DEA, before being disposed of, the release stated.
Police also recovered a dog, cat and bird from the residence.
At the time of the search, Dunham was in the Benton County Jail, after being arrested July 24 by Rogers police in connection with delivery of methamphetamine. Bella Vista police served their arrest warrant at the county jail, where Dunham is being held with no bond set in the Bella Vista arrest, the release stated.
The cordoned-off home will require a cleanout process, according to Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality regulations.
NW News on 07/28/2017