Nevada police discover meth lab, arrest wanted fugitive

Saturday, April 28, 2012

By Rusty Murry/Nevada Daily Mail

The Nevada Police Department reports that it has arrested a suspect, Edward L. Curtis, 56, of Nevada, in connection with an active "meth lab and associated drug sales" at a residence located in the 600 block of East Hickory Street, according to a news release.

The morning of April 26, acting on "information from a reliable source," Nevada police determined that there was illegal drug activity at a residence on East Hickory Street, Chief Graham Burnley said.

During the investigation, officers determined that Curtis was a fugitive from Oklahoma who had recently moved to Nevada. Officers also discovered a meth lab on the property and evidence of drug sales.

Curtis is wanted in Oklahoma on felony warrants charging him with an arson that is reportedly connected with another meth laboratory in that state. Officers placed Curtis under arrest without incident and transported the suspect to the Vernon County Jail. Regional Drug Task Force members assisted Nevada officers by securing the products contained in the make-shift residential laboratory.

Investigating officers found the lab was located within 2,000 feet of a school.

Felony warrants were issued by the Vernon County Associate Circuit Court on one count of keeping or maintaining a public nuisance, a class C felony; one count of possession of controlled substance except 35 grams or less of marijuana, a class C felony, and one count of manufacturing/producing or attempting to manufacture/produce within 2,000 feet of a school, a class A felony.

Curtis is being held at the Vernon County Jail on a $250,000 cash-only bond. Additional charges are pending in Oklahoma. Burnley said this "was a real good pinch," and that when Curtis "gets done here, he's going back to Oklahoma."

Burnley said the citizen-provided information leading to this arrest is the kind of help "we need more of."

Residents are encouraged to contact police if they have any information helpful in fighting crime.

Questions regarding crime prevention techniques or how to start a Neighborhood Watch Program should be directed to the Nevada Police Department, (417) 448 -- 2710.

To report criminal activities call 911 or use the Tip Hotline (417) 448 - 5117. Any and all information will be kept confidential.

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Good Job.

-- Posted by TerryB on Sat, Apr 28, 2012, at 10:23 AM
Good going, Nevada police!

-- Posted by IcedGreenTea on Sat, Apr 28, 2012, at 12:34 PM
Good job

-- Posted by Denis Cannon on Sat, Apr 28, 2012, at 3:12 PM
This Chief seems to like the public's help. It was never that way in the past.

-- Posted by TerryB on Sat, Apr 28, 2012, at 6:54 PM
I'll admit when this Chief first came to town I thought he was one of JD's good ol'boys. I have to say he is getting it done where the last chief didn't and where Mr Peckman isn't. Maybe need to turn some of the unsolved crimes over to him. Perhaps he can be persuaded to give up the city and run for county.

-- Posted by thoth2011 on Sat, Apr 28, 2012, at 9:30 PM
Thank God! Get as many of them off the street as possible. Way to go!

-- Posted by joey1979 on Sun, Apr 29, 2012, at 8:15 AM
In Singapore they hang people for this, no questions asked!

-- Posted by Ponto on Sun, Apr 29, 2012, at 12:56 PM
Way to protect and serve NPD

-- Posted by USS_Missouri on Sun, Apr 29, 2012, at 6:19 PM
way to go great job NPD

-- Posted by HEREWEGOAGAIN10 on Mon, Apr 30, 2012, at 10:49 PM
Thanks NPD and Chief Burnley for getting the bad guys off the street. Keep up the good work.

-- Posted by Looking Forward on Tue, May 1, 2012, at 6:38 AM
Chief Burnley is an amazing lift to this community. Keep up the great job Nevada Police and County Sheriff's Office. Lets clean up this county. It's embarrassing to be known as the "Meth Capital of the World". Nice to see something being done about it!

-- Posted by Gordongekko on Wed, May 2, 2012, at 8:25 AM
according to an AP survery, Missouri is back on top for the so-called meth capital based on meth lab busts. Now you can look at that two ways, one, there are more, or two, Missouri is more aggressive in locating and shutting down the labs. any which way you look at this, it is a growing disease that cannot be ignored. we as a community need to also be aggressive and not ignore the abuse in our neighborhoods.

-- Posted by bewise on Wed, May 2, 2012, at 10:56 AM
Well put Bewise it will be darker before the dawn at least stat wise.

-- Posted by USS_Missouri on Wed, May 2, 2012, at 12:48 PM
Great job NPD but I find it strange most of the arrests are out of state or not locals, lets get after the locals also. Clean up this town no matter what name they have or if they are a life long Nevadan. Let this rot fester and you will have no Nevada.

-- Posted by jormancat on Wed, May 2, 2012, at 6:04 PM
I agree that NPD did a great job in making this arrest and getting rid of another Meth Lab....but what about the people who were buying from him? I have to agree with "Gordongekko" and "Jormancat", I would really like to see Nevada become a place where out kids would feel safe and we could grow as a thriving town once again.

-- Posted by Undercoverboss1 on Wed, May 2, 2012, at 7:42 PM
The problem here is, the same people are arrested over and over. There are several who have as many as 15 convictions in the last 5 years and only get probation. As long as the courts don't lock them up, they will continue to reoffend. The police aren't at fault, they arrest them, the courts just turn them loose.

-- Posted by TerryB on Thu, May 3, 2012, at 4:36 PM

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