PHILLIPS COUNTY, Ark. — It was Saturday, June 6.
A Phillips County Deputy recognized the driver and passenger in a blue pickup truck as drug users and dealers.
Investigators said they pair had just left a known spot for drug activity in Helena-West Helena when a deputy pulled them over for a traffic stop that was anything but routine.
“We got a rolling meth lab out of it. I think we got right at 2.9 grams of crystal meth that had just been manufactured,”said Sylvester Rose.
Deputies arrested Tammie Parker from Phillips County and Johnny Gant from Lee County.
Both have served time for drug related crimes.
Inside the pickup was everything needed to manufacture meth while “on the move.”
Phillips County lawmen told WREG they are battling a growing drug problem in the county involving meth, crystal meth, ice and prescription pills.
Surprisingly, “mobile meth” factories aren’t as big a problem as they used to be, and there’s a disturbing reason why.
“There’s so much crystal meth and ice coming into town that almost anybody can buy meth from anybody these days,” said Rose.
Thursday, deputies along with the Arkansas State Police raided a number of “houses” where drug dealers set up shop.
One of them was just a few doors from where Violet and Lenny Newsom live.
“They arrested one person, but they were down there for a long time,” said Lenny.
The couple said they hope the neighborhood finally returns to normal.
“We haven’t had any problems with any kind of drugs. They moved in a couple of months ago and that’s when we started having crime here,” said Violet.