Shoshone RAT busts meth lab

PINEHURST – The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence in Pine Creek on Tuesday morning, leading to the discovery of a significant methamphetamine manufacturing operation.  

Alan L. Anderson, 60, was arrested on Wednesday evening, and is facing charges that include two felony counts of manufacturing a schedule II substance, felony trafficking methamphetamine, and misdemeanors possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“We were able to gain intel in multiple ways, but ultimately we had a deputy go check out the home where he reported a strong stench of acetone, along with several other contributing factors, and we were able to obtain a search warrant,” SCSO Cap. Seth Green said.  

After working with the Shoshone County Prosecutor’s Office to secure the warrant, the SCSO deployed its new Rapid Action Team (RAT) to execute the warrant in the early morning hours on Tuesday.  

Upon entering the residence, deputies discovered large quantities of chemicals used to produce methamphetamine, a marijuana grow station, and large amounts of methamphetamine.  

According to Green, Anderson was not at residence at the time of the search and the lab was not active, which allowed the RAT to move through the residence and surrounding property quickly and safely.  

“It’s a touchy thing,” Green said. “We have to weigh various safety factors. The odor was significantly diminished at the time we went in, but we do believe that the lab was being used that day. But the odors had diminished enough that we deemed it safe enough for us to do our search.”  

The combustible elements used to manufacture methamphetamine can cause dangerous fumes, fire accelerants, and even explosions if handled improperly.  

The RAT is a group of deputies who have received special levels of training, specifically tactical, building clearance, and working together as a group, to make responding to events like this safe and efficient. After a year’s worth of training, Tuesday’s bust was their first official mission together. 

On Wednesday morning, Green was informed that the amount of meth seized during the search was roughly one pound or 453.5 grams.

Deputies also discovered a high quantity of ammonium nitrate during their search. 

This was the SCSO’s first meth lab bust in several years, and Cap. Green asks that the public keep a watchful eye on their surroundings. If anyone notices things like the strong odor of acetone or paint thinner, numerous quantities of smaller propane tanks, neighbors keeping weird hours, or people coming and going from their neighborhoods at odd times of day or night, they report this to the SCSO.