First Posted: 2/23/2015
HAMLET — Authorities mopped up a meth lab Saturday and arrested a man accused of making the drug in a Hamlet home.
Hamlet police, Richmond County sheriff’s deputies and State Bureau of Investigation agents responded to a home on Entwistle Street Friday where sheriff’s Capt. Jay Childers says they found meth manufacturing equipment “and some finished product.”
Joshua Edgar Bowman, 27, of Entwistle Street, was arrested on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, possession or distribution of meth precursors and maintaining a dwelling for a controlled substance.
Hamlet Police Chief Scott Waters said both the sheriff’s office and police department had received tips about suspicious activity at the home.
“It’s just being a good citizen and knowing your community,” Waters said. “We can’t do anything without the citizens.”
Police suspected “some suspicious activity going on 90-95-related,” the chief said, referring to the North Carolina general statute for drug offenses. When the lab was discovered Friday, authorities had to wait overnight for SBI agents to collect the chemicals.
“We kept the house taped off until they could come out and process the scene,” Waters said. “That stuff is dangerous. I think it’s becoming an epidemic.”
While the Entwistle Street home is Hamlet’s first meth lab in recent memory, Richmond County has seen a surge of meth busts since New Year’s Day. By mid-February, the city of Rockingham had already doubled the number of meth arrests its officers made in calendar year 2014.
Richmond County was tied with Stanly County for the seventh-highest number of meth labs in North Carolina in 2014 wth 17 labs each, according to SBI figures. State agents responded to 25 meth labs in Richmond County from 2001-13.
Hamlet Fire and Rescue also responded to the meth lab call due to the flammable chemicals inside the home. Waters credited cooperation between law enforcement agencies and other first responders with the successful investigation and arrest.
“It’s everyone working together and getting the job done,” he said.
Bowman was booked into the Richmond County Detention Center under a $95,000 secured bond.
Records show Bowman was released from prison in October 2012 after serving a six-month sentence on Richmond County convictions of larceny after breaking and entering, attempted larceny of more than $1,000 and obtaining property by false pretense.
Bowman has a history of larceny convictions dating back to 2006. He also has pending charges of assault on a female and misdemeanor assault and battery, according to Richmond County court records.
Police encourage anyone who suspects drug activity in their neighborhood to call the Hamlet Police Department at 910-582-2551 or Richmond County Crime Stoppers at 910-997-5454.
“If they see anything suspicious, alert us,” Waters said, “and we’ll use whatever resources we can to investigate it.”
Reach Editor Corey Friedman at 910-817-2670 and follow him on Twitter @RCDailyJournal.