Officers remove evidence from a room at Starlite Motel Thursday as Mount Airy firemen stand by in case of an explosion, due to the volatile chemicals used in methamphetamine production.
Jared Shawn Jessup
Brittany Denise Hill
A man’s attempt to have customers at a local pharmacy buy a nasal decongestant for him led to a search of Starlite Motel and felony methamphetamine charges being filed, Mount Airy police said Thursday.
Law enforcement personnel were at the motel from late Wednesday night until Thursday afternoon processing evidence discovered inside a room there. The local and state officers who were involved found precursors, items typically used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
Members of the Mount Airy Fire Department stood by in case of an explosion due to the volatility of those substances.
Jared Shawn Jessup, 33, whose address is listed as Starlite Motel, initially was charged with possession of methamphetamine after a brief investigation of his activities at Walgreens on U.S. 601 which preceded the search at the motel.
Police had been called to the store late Wednesday in reference to a man asking customers to buy pseudoephedrine for him there. “You’re only allowed so much,” Capt. Alan Freeman said of that medication which is linked to the production of meth.
Further investigation led officers to search Room 117 on the northernmost side of Starlite Motel, which is located at the corner of North Andy Griffith Parkway and Starlite Road.
In addition to meth precursors, Brittany Denise Hill, 23, of Mount Airy and her 18-month-old child were found in the room.
Hill was charged with misdemeanor child abuse, and two unrelated misdemeanor orders for arrests for failing to appear in court and comply with court orders. The Department of Social Services also was notified and took custody of the child, with police not specifying the gender of the child.
In addition to the initial offense of possessing meth stemming from the pharmacy incident, Jessup later was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine and misdemeanor child abuse.
Among those processing the scene was a special team from the State Bureau of Investigation and members of the Surry County Sheriff’s Office with expertise in raiding clandestine methamphetamine labs.
After their all-night efforts, officers wearing protective clothing were seen placing items in white buckets Thursday.
“Everything was there in that room to make it,” Freeman said of items found which are used in meth production. A total of 1.5 grams of processed meth was seized, including that allegedly possessed by Jessup at Walgreens.
More charges could be forthcoming, Freeman said regarding the case.
“The investigation will continue. We’re still following up on some leads with some other individuals and other aspects of it,” he added.
Hill was confined in the Surry County Jail under a $35,325 secured bond, with Jessup held under a $20,000 secured bond.
Reach Tom Joyce at 719-1924 or tjoyce@civitasmedia.com.
Post a Comment
