Meth arrests on the rise locally
By Kat Russell, Reporter
The Paducah Sun
July 23, 2016
http://www.paducahsun.com/news/local/072316_PS_Meth_Arrests-621966
Spend some time sifting through police reports and court dockets and it's clear methamphetamine is a significant problem in western Kentucky.
Arrests have been steadily on the rise. Paducah police made 35 arrests in 2013 in cases involving methamphetamine that resulted in charges ranging from possession to trafficking. In 2014 that number rose to 41, and last year saw 58 methamphetamine-related arrests.
So far this year, the department said, 31 arrests have been made on meth-related charges.
In McCracken County, arrests have also risen.
In 2013, deputies investigated 97 cases involving methamphetamine that resulted in charges raging from possession to trafficking to manufacturing. That number dropped to 74 cases in 2014, and in 2015 the county saw an increase with 112 cases.
This year, Sheriff Jon Hayden said, the department has investigated 68 cases involving meth.
"If it keeps going the way it's going, we're slated to exceed what we've seen in previous years," he said.
More arrests, however, do not necessarily mean there's more methamphetamine in the area, said McCracken Detective Matt Carter. Many factors including more aggressive policing can drive up the arrest numbers.
As law enforcement becomes more aggressive toward intercepting and stopping the flow of drugs into communities, the supply lines can be interrupted while the arrest numbers continue to increase.
"What we have been seeing an increase in overall is more of the crystal meth, the high-quality meth that's manufactured originally in these super labs, oftentimes in Mexico," Carter said.
In recent years, he said, there has been a shift from people manufacturing methamphetamine locally in small home or portable labs to people acquiring larger amounts of "high-quality" methamphetamine from large operations in Mexico and other parts of the U.S.
Paducah police Capt. Anthony Copeland said much the same, adding that anonymous tips concerning meth have contributed to the increase in arrests.
"Another source that we have is from tips — anonymous tips that we receive through Crime Stoppers as well as concerned citizens. We have definitely seen an increase in the number of tips concerning meth."
While an uptick in methamphetamine arrests could indicate an increase of product in the area, Copeland said that is not always the case.
"There are a lot of variables that contribute to arrest numbers when it comes to methamphetamine," he said, adding that increased enforcement, drug unit operations and helpful tips from the public can lead to more arrests.
Copeland said drug addiction, including meth abuse, goes hand in hand with other crimes, such as burglaries, thefts and robberies.
"If you look on a national level, 80 percent of the individuals who are incarcerated will attest to a substance abuse issue. So you're going to have addictions and substance abuse at the core those actions."
One thing Copeland said has changed over the years is the groups affected by the drug.
"Methamphetamine historically was limited to certain demographics, and now it's widespread," he said. "Now there's no limit in the demographics of the people who are buying and selling meth. It's across all demographics. It's across the board."
As to whether this area has seen an increase in product and not just arrests, Copeland said he can't definitively say yes or no.
"Just judging from the increase in arrests, there's definitely been an increase in the occurrences where we come across methamphetamine," he said. "Whether that means for a fact that there's more of it in the area, I can't say. But from the statistics, we are coming across it more than we have in the past."
Arrests have been steadily on the rise. Paducah police made 35 arrests in 2013 in cases involving methamphetamine that resulted in charges ranging from possession to trafficking. In 2014 that number rose to 41, and last year saw 58 methamphetamine-related arrests.
So far this year, the department said, 31 arrests have been made on meth-related charges.
In McCracken County, arrests have also risen.
In 2013, deputies investigated 97 cases involving methamphetamine that resulted in charges raging from possession to trafficking to manufacturing. That number dropped to 74 cases in 2014, and in 2015 the county saw an increase with 112 cases.
This year, Sheriff Jon Hayden said, the department has investigated 68 cases involving meth.
"If it keeps going the way it's going, we're slated to exceed what we've seen in previous years," he said.
More arrests, however, do not necessarily mean there's more methamphetamine in the area, said McCracken Detective Matt Carter. Many factors including more aggressive policing can drive up the arrest numbers.
As law enforcement becomes more aggressive toward intercepting and stopping the flow of drugs into communities, the supply lines can be interrupted while the arrest numbers continue to increase.
"What we have been seeing an increase in overall is more of the crystal meth, the high-quality meth that's manufactured originally in these super labs, oftentimes in Mexico," Carter said.
In recent years, he said, there has been a shift from people manufacturing methamphetamine locally in small home or portable labs to people acquiring larger amounts of "high-quality" methamphetamine from large operations in Mexico and other parts of the U.S.
Paducah police Capt. Anthony Copeland said much the same, adding that anonymous tips concerning meth have contributed to the increase in arrests.
"Another source that we have is from tips — anonymous tips that we receive through Crime Stoppers as well as concerned citizens. We have definitely seen an increase in the number of tips concerning meth."
While an uptick in methamphetamine arrests could indicate an increase of product in the area, Copeland said that is not always the case.
"There are a lot of variables that contribute to arrest numbers when it comes to methamphetamine," he said, adding that increased enforcement, drug unit operations and helpful tips from the public can lead to more arrests.
Copeland said drug addiction, including meth abuse, goes hand in hand with other crimes, such as burglaries, thefts and robberies.
"If you look on a national level, 80 percent of the individuals who are incarcerated will attest to a substance abuse issue. So you're going to have addictions and substance abuse at the core those actions."
One thing Copeland said has changed over the years is the groups affected by the drug.
"Methamphetamine historically was limited to certain demographics, and now it's widespread," he said. "Now there's no limit in the demographics of the people who are buying and selling meth. It's across all demographics. It's across the board."
As to whether this area has seen an increase in product and not just arrests, Copeland said he can't definitively say yes or no.
"Just judging from the increase in arrests, there's definitely been an increase in the occurrences where we come across methamphetamine," he said. "Whether that means for a fact that there's more of it in the area, I can't say. But from the statistics, we are coming across it more than we have in the past."
