Anonymous tip leads to arrest of Iatan man
METH LAB BUSTED
by Ivan Foley and Debra Dittmer
Landmark staff
With the help of an anonymous tip and a search warrant, a suspected meth lab was raided Friday morning at 175 Main Street in the northwestern Platte County village of Iatan.
“There were potentially hazardous conditions, but no active meth cooking at the time (of the bust),” reported Captain Frank Hunter of the Platte County Sheriff's Department.
According to Hunter, other agencies on the scene were the Platte County SWAT Team, Kansas City Metro Drug Task Force, Weston Ambulance and West Platte Fire Department.
One suspect, Lloyd D. Harris, 45, was taken into custody. He is being held at the Platte County Jail, charged with a class B felony of manufacturing a controlled substance, methamphetamine. He remains in custody and his cash-only bond has been set at $100,000.
Court papers indicate authorities acted on a tip to uncover the alleged meth operation.
On Aug. 10, Det. Jacob Phillips spoke on the phone with a person who wished to remain anonymous. The tipster stated that he/she believed that Lloyd Harris, who is on parole for manufacturing meth, is manufacturing in his mother’s home in Iatan. The tipster stated he/she heard that Harris travels to a number of pharmacies to get ingredients for manufacturing the meth.
Harris’ parole officer confirmed for Det. Phillips that Harris lives with his mother at 175 Main in Iatan. Det. Phillips then contacted several pharmacies seeking to determine if Harris had purchased material that could be used in manufacturing of meth. It was discovered Harris showed picture ID, signed for and purchased Sudafed, which is commonly used in meth, at several pharmacies on numerous occasions.
Det. Phillips then applied for and received a search warrant for the residence at 175 Main.
According to statements by authorities in the court papers, after he was read his rights Harris admitted to having the components for manufacturing methamphetamine in the residence, and admitted to having manufactured meth in the home a week prior to the search warrant being served. Harris allegedly also told authorities that he is addicted to meth.
Harris was arraigned in Platte County Circuit Court on Tuesday. He was represented by a public defender, and entered a plea of not guilty. Harris requested a continuance, which was granted, and will be back in court on Sept. 1 at 9 a.m.
