Man flees drug bust scene
Marion County Sheriff's officers are looking for a man from Chase County, in the wake of a near-arrest of the man on drug charges the evening of July 1.
Sheriff Lee Becker said that shortly before 9 p.m. July 1, a call came in from a citizen in Florence, reporting existence of a possible methamphetamine-manufacturing lab in Florence.
The reporting citizen said a man wearing black was standing with a cell phone at 105 X Ranch Road, and it looked as though he was waiting for someone to pick him up. There also was a strong chemical smell in the area, the citizen said.
Sheriff's Sgt. Jeff Soyez asked a Florence police patrol officer to respond to the scene, because Soyez was in the northern part of the county at the time, Becker said.
At 9:06 p.m. Soyez received a message from the officer saying that a scuffle had occurred and the man had escaped on foot from custody.
The Florence policeman requested assistance. Police officers from Marion, Hillsboro, and Peabody responded along with Sheriff Becker and several of his officers. Chase County also sent sheriff's units, Becker said.
Using the Florence Fire Department for traffic control, a perimeter was set up around the suspected meth lab site.
"A one-mile-square perimeter was set up," said Becker. "We used Chase and Marion (county) drug dogs to track him. We found anhydrous ammonia and other drug-manufacturing paraphernalia along the trail.
"We also used thermal imaging, and found some deer, but not the guy. He has been identified, and we'll be seeking a warrant for his arrest," Becker said.
The sheriff added that the county's emergency management personnel and vehicles were utilized to transport equipment to help process the meth lab — air packs, suits, etc.
"We were at the scene until 2 a.m. (July 2)," Becker said. Evidence was gathered for the case against the fugitive.
"I want to thank the citizen for the tip, all the officers who responded, the Florence Fire Department, the Florence police officer, and the Hillsboro and Peabody officers," Becker said.
