FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 20, 2002
Gilchrist County Man
Arrested on Felony Drug, Hazardous Waste Charges
TALLAHASSEE -
Department
of Environmental Protection Division of Law Enforcement
agents served an arrest warrant this morning on Howard Ray
Vice, 55, of Bell, Florida in Gilchrist County. The
warrant was issued charging Vice with two, third-degree
felony counts: one for unlawful possession of listed
chemicals and the other for improper storage of hazardous
waste. These charges stem from the operation of a
clandestine methamphetamine laboratory that Vice was
operating out of his mobile home at 4320 NW 31st
Avenue in Bell. Agents served the warrant on Vice at the
Dixie County Jail, where he has been imprisoned for the
last two months on similar charges from a previous
incident.
DEP’s
investigation began on May 30, 2002 in response to a
complaint originally received by the Gilchrist County
Sheriff’s Office. DEP recovered several gallon and quart
jars of ether, a hazardous chemical that is used in the
production of the methamphetamine commonly known as “crank.”
In addition to the ether, officers also recovered assorted
drug paraphernalia.
“In this case, the
drug and environmental charges complement one another,”
said Thomas S. Tramel, director of DEP’s Division of Law
Enforcement. “Ether is not only a drug component, but it
is a hazardous waste due to its flammability. The type of
glass jars used to store this liquid are regularly used to
store food. They were found with no warning labels or
other indications as to their contents. This investigation
has prevented what could have been both an environmental
and medical emergency waiting to happen.”
Both third-degree
felony charges are punishable by up to 5 years in prison
and/or a $5,000 fine.
Press Office
