News Release

For further information please contact: Sgt. Jason Clark
(573) 522-0980
DDCC11212008
November 21, 2008

EMPHASIS: Drug Investigation


Captain Luke Vislay, director of the Division of Drug and Crime Control, announces the results of a short-term narcotics investigation in Crawford County.

As a result of a short-term drug investigation by members of the Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group, and the Crawford County Sheriff’s Department, Darrell Brooks, 44, and James Hanks, 25, were arrested for attempting to manufacture a controlled substance. During a consent search on November 20, 2008, drug task force officers seized items used to produce methamphetamine, as well as items used to produce anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is a key ingredient for the production of methamphetamine. Due to enhanced criminal statutes regarding anhydrous ammonia, methamphetamine producers are more frequently manufacturing anhydrous ammonia as part of the methamphetamine production process.
This increases the physical and environmental risks to an already volatile production process.

Brooks and Hanks were transported to the Crawford County Jail, where they were formally charged for attempting to manufacture a controlled substance; each was held on a $10,000 bond.

The Lake Area Narcotics Enforcement Group is a multi-jurisdictional drug task force. Its members include the sheriff’s departments of Gasconade, Laclede, Camden, Dallas, Pulaski, and Crawford counties, and the Lebanon and Osage Beach police departments. LANEG is governed by a board of directors and is coordinated by the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

The above charges are mere accusations and are not evidence of guilt. Evidence in support of these charges must be presented before a court of competent jurisdiction whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.

(###)