Drew County Meth Lab Busted Saturday
Published by Joe Burgess January 22nd, 2008 in Police /Legal.According to reports, a Monticello man was arrested Saturday afternoon, just before 5 PM, and charged with multiple charges of possession and manufacturing of methamphetamine.
During a drug investigation, a tip came in to the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept. which led to the discovery and dismantling of a “home meth lab” in the Lone Sassafrass area.
Officers involved in the arrest were Deputies Williams and Davis, and DTF agent John Carter. Andy Burns, of Monticello, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, possession with intent to manufacture, and simultaneous possession of drugs and a firearm.
Burns was arrested and taken for a first appearance bond hearing. His bond was set at $50,000.
The meth lab was safely dismantled after the arrest.
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GOOD!! I hope all the meth house developers get busted!! Maybe they will have to start serving longer sentences to put the point across to any other crazy crackhead that may think about starting one!!
I Agree! I just hope they make sure that he’s not able to be around his kids. His wife was probably in on it also! I feel sorry for their baby & his wife’s son. They should be taken out of the household & somewhere safe. It’s obvious he doesn’t care about them or he would’ve never done it in the first place
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others.” Mathew 7:1,2
I surely wasn’t judging!! I was stating that I am a parent of children being brought up in this world and there should be VERY stiff sentences against anyone that decides this is the right path in life. I do not know the home life of these people! I don’t know their situation. I do know that ANY one that starts a meth house should be BUSTED and serve time. I’m also tired of hearing that “they were in a hard place in their life and didn’t have the money to live”…….well, get another JOB!! Who hasn’t been in a hard place in life?? It’s hard to raise children without drugs…..just with the influence of other things in life. Add meth to that……..
I am for sure not condoning this behavior. I was referring more to the comment about the wife and children. While this behavior does effect them it should not drag them down. I just pray, and ask you to pray, that the Lord’s will be done in this situation.
I work at a prison and it is getting filled with people that getting 40 years or more for doing drugs. I by no means condone doing drugs but it amazes me when I see child molesters getting 3-10 years. Drugs are an epidemic in our country but if your parenting skills are good enough you can keep your children away from them. Instead of putting them in an already overcrowded prison alternatives should be considered. Maybe Rehab for a year. Yes, you may want to point out that they can get rehab from behind bars. Let me inform you that a mental health worker will see them once a month the entire time that they are their. Many spouses that get involved with addicts themselves are in denial. Yes they may see the signs but don’t recognize them and cannot dream that the person that they love is doing what they are doing. I also do know this man. I have been friends with him the past seven years. I have been on several hunting trips with him. I was shocked to learn about his situation. It was just this past week that I went with him to place an application in for another job. (And Yes! He did have one at the time of his bust!). During our trip we noticed a man who had several sheets of plywood fly off the back of his truck on the freeway. We stopped and helped the man put the wood back on his truck. Would you stop to help someone in the middle of a busy freeway like that? Honestly, I don’t think I would have if I had not been with Andy. That is the kind of man that I know Andy to be. Someone who will stop to help a total stranger with no thought of how it would benefit them. I can see by the comments that you have left that you believe if all people who deal with drugs and meth in particular get stiffer sentences than it will make your job as a parent easier. Your job as a parent will never be easy. You have to give your children the strength to turn away from all the negative influences in their lives. I seriously doubt that this man or any man getting busted for becoming addicted to a substance that you do not know will affect your children negatively. Can we please stop making assumptions about people’s lives when we do not know them? It is going to be hard enough for the Burns family to cope with Andy’s actions. Pointing fingers and ridiculing them will not benefit anyone. I will leave with this parting comment “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.”
Again…..I wasn’t casting stones or judging! Parenting is hard no matter what…….even the best of parents have children that do drugs! I wasn’t trying to say any different. I know Andy….went to school with him. He’s a nice person but that doesn’t change the fact that he is wrong for selling drugs. I stated before that I don’t know their situation…..but I do know them. I have been around him many times since I graduated YEARS ago. He being a nice citizen doesn’t differ my opinion of drug dealers. Child molesters, as you stated in the above post, is a whole different matter BUT I’m sure there are some that are “nice” citizens of this town that would help someone out if they had some issues. Andy watched his brother go down this same drug path that he has chosen to go down……dogged Tim out for being so stupid. What’s the difference in him doing it and Tim? ONLY difference is……HE watch Tim get caught and he was stupid enough to TRY the same dang thing!! AND how do you say that this man getting addicted to a substance will not affect my children? Are you saying he wasn’t selling it? Or, that he was doing it alone……??? No one was there doing it with him?? Yes, it affects many children……he has kids in school. Ones that won’t have their dad their to raise them, if he goes to prison. Ones that will have to put up with remarks made from other kids and that bringing this drug dealers children down…..maybe even down the same path!! I haven’t seen the FIRST one get 40 years for drugs……..10-12 years is all that I’ve seen and they don’t even serve all that!
This is a community problem, not a criminal problem. Human beings have been using chemical substances since the beginning of time. Most of the United States’ drug laws are horribly draconian and usually used to oppress the downtrodden.
Drug dependency is a medical affliction, not always criminal behavior. There are too many people in prison today. The United States has more people in prison than any other nation in the world.
There is something seriously wrong when people shout, “Throw them in jail” before conviction or exercising any quality of mercy.
Ignorance is the true villain here today.
To the Local Monticello Parent, You obviously don’t have a clue about addiction. Oh, and please don’t judge people about things your not educated about. No, should you call people names:dumb, stupid, etc. The Godly thing to do is pray about the things you are condemning. Your children are affected much more by the things you do, than what others are doing. Maybe since you know these people the thing for you to do would be to reach out to this family in a positive way.
I live miles away from Monticello, it is my hometown. I do know someone from there that has 40 plus years for a drug crime. A very stiff sentence for his particular offence.
I have been on both sides of the fence. I have had an addiction problem. A bad one. But with help I have recovered and later worked with drug addicts. Worked in the field from a detox. unit, to rehab, to a support group after they finish rehab.
Another way you could be a postive role model, Maybe do something in the community towards helping change these people lives. Example search out ways to get grant money for more rehab in your area. Petition for people to get extensive rehab. Maybe start a support group for spouses and children that are affected.
Your calling these people names. So will be your children that carries the pre dictions you made about what happens the Burn’s children. Kids do follow parents examples.
My reply to the so called “drug addictions” is simple. People with drug addictions need help, from not just professional, but family and friends. My problem is when the addiction leads to manufacturing and selling and detroying not just there lives but the lives of their innocent family and children. My childrens father was recently arrested and plead guilty to manufacturing methamphetamines and mainting a drug premises while his children were visiting. Its not just the drug use but the serious danger he put my children in with no regard for them or their safety. He will get off light for it being his first offense. But let me ask you this, what if his first offense had gotten one or both of my children killed or permanently disabled from the toxic and deadly ingredients for this drug. Which were found in the open and in the home. I truly believe that the lives of my children and everyone else’s children are worth more than 10-12 years of his time.
I totally agree!!! I’m not sure what is on the mind of a drug addict but it’s not their children!! If it were my children that had been around the meth house, I wouldn’t care if the offender got life or the death penalty! My children are worth a lot more than a few measley grams of crystal meth!!!
I totally agree my children are worth so much to me. I also know Andy’s children are the world to him and he was not doing this in his home. For that matter he wasn’t anywhere near any children or anyone.
It was around people. Get your facts straight.
No, but if you know anything about Meth then the fumes can get on his clothes and anything else around him. So whose to say he didn’t have it on his clothes and go home to be with his wife and kids. Therefore, exposing them to Meth.
There are too many “concerned citizens”. Can one of you put a number or something behind your id?
Oh well who was he with when he was doing this? Maybe you can help the cops out on this!!
Noone was “with” him when he was cooking it. There were people who stayed in a place just 100 yds away from where he was cooking. You’re obviously a freind.
Many of you would benefit from some study of the Bible:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Rom 3:23
“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36
“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you.” Matt 7:2
“If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private” Matt 18:15
Without giving you the entire bible by verse, please consider the above, as well as that the Bible teaches that all sin is equal under the eyes of God. All man sins and the penalty for sin is death. We are to hate the sin and love the sinner. He, too is a lamb of God and when one strays, God goes looking for that sheep. God went looking for Andy and has his undivided attention. Pray that God has found his sheep and that you are not the next one to be missing from the flock.
To the Burns Family:
You are all in my prayers. I know that Jesus will do with you and your family what has to be done to achieve what he expects from you. He knows your heart. I pray that your family find it in their hearts to forgive those that contain idle gossip and those who persecute you unjustly. Please take shelter in the Lord, for he will give you strength.
I have been very close to this situation and have stood by in silence until today.
To the parents: Please consider your actions when God forbid, your child comes home with a drug, alcohol, or legal problem. Mistakes happen. You will, of course being the responsible parents, grieve for your child’s mistake, look to correct the error, counsel your child to the best of your ability, and then in addition to all of this you will face the scorn and unforgiving society that we live in.
The judicial system will deal with Andy as they see fit, as will God. It is not our place to be the judge and jury. His family is coping with the trials and tribulations put before them. Their family is having enough trouble dealing without the callous attitudes of their fellow citizens. The anger that has been expressed only leads to anger being taught to our future generations which will then lead to violence or worse. Teach your children as well as yourselves that what he has done was wrong, however, he is being dealt with by the law of the land and the law of God. We do not know all of the details, nor is it our business, other than to assure our families safety. Deal with your own home first. Each of us will deal with trials and if your family is currently full of peace, be thankful. Your turn will be soon.
Andy and his family have dealt with this situation as maturely and responsibly as possible at this time. His wife, although not approving or delighted with his actions made a vow to God for better or for worse. That vow is not taken seriously anymore. She is standing beside him and supporting him through their worse case scenario as God expects her too. She, nor Andy or the children need any futher stress to add to the degree of severity of the situation. Can you imagine the confusion that is already in the home?
The family has to band together and is unable to have any healing with the current actions of this very strong community. I am originally for Monticello and am proud of that. I love the town, however, because of the small size, everyone tends to know everything about everyone. None of us were there and everything that is “fact” is up for grabs. Let the law do its job and be delighted in your peace.
All of humanity will have to go through trials, if you do not have your share, Congratulations on your perfection. You should write a book on your secrets.
I hope the best for the Burns family and as they well know, I will be as supportive and helpful as need be. No, I do not like or approve of his actions, but like every one of us, Andy made a huge mistake. He is paying for that along with everyone else involved. You are not living in that home and are not coping with the circumstances, therefore let all of this idle gossip go and just enjoy your children and their peace. Everything will be done as God needs to be done.
How did God get mixed in with cooking meth? He, like most, would still be cooking, dealing, and using if he hadn’t got caught. When someone is doing something illegal AND could potentially be harmful to other non-users…we, as a society, can step in and do something about it…It’s called a jury.
I do not know the Burns family but have somewhat of an idea of the crisis they are going through. I have a family member that is a recovering drug addict. My baby sister was a meth user for 14 years. How she is still alive today is only by the grace of God. She has made many mistakes as we all have, but her mistakes not only affected her, they affected her children and her family. Any kind of addiction is bad, but this drug known as meth is nothing but evil. It destroys all who use it and those around them. I am sure my baby sister had no intention of becoming an addict but she did. She is dealing with her addiction, has been in rehab and is doing well. Our role has been to love and support her through all of it. I am not sure where the answer lies, but I think we should target the drug and not the person. There needs to be more education concerning the effects of this and other drugs, rehabs where people can get the help they need, support systems for the families, and there needs to be more prayer and love for these people. I don’t understand all the negative comments and remarks and also, why doesn’t anyone leave their name?
Amen to that concerned citizen. Have these people talking about forgiveness ever had their children directly effected? I have forgiven the addiction I have not forgiven what could have happened to my children.
To the concerned citizen and what about the children:
God got mixed up with this long before Andy or you were on earth. He got mixed up with every single sin that we commit. The jury will be chosen and justice will be served by our judicial system, not by the idle opinionated citizens that will also have to soon endure the persecution that they, themselves are creating.
As for the children, unless you are Andy Burns and his wife’s children, you have not been hurt by his actions and trust me when I tell you that I KNOW THAT for the truth. Before anyone speaks they should asks themselves three questions:
1. Do you KNOW it to be true?
2. Will your statement be good and positive?
3. Will your statement benefit those you are discussing?
If you cannot say yes to these three, then keep your thoughts to yourself. And if those thoughts contain anger and hate, you should be praying for your own forgiveness. Those, too, are sins.
Thanks LeeAnn for your notes.
To Those who Love..what if he was cooking on someone else’s property without their knowledge…does that directly affect others? What if his “lab” blown up with kids around? Will that affect others? If you answered No to any of these questions, you’re a moron.
you know ,i came on here to check about a story, and every entry is bickering back and forth. instead of trying to say your piece and change someones views, take care of your families and stop spending so much negative energy on something you can’t change. bad things happen, and they also happen to good people, thats life. but its up to them to make their life better. you can only pray for them. ( besides how do you think his family would react if they saw all of this.)
howeve i do agree with concerned citizen on the view point of it affects everyone, its a fact. Look up the statistics of injuries due to meth labs and the like, not just the people making them but many innocent souls.
“Nothing is easier than to condemn the evildoer; nothing is harder than to understand him.” - Fyodor Dostoevsky
Drug addiction is a mental and physical problem. Why wouldn’t we make an effort to help those who need it rather than lock them away and condemn them for their defect?
OK, enough with these crazy anonymous names! Afraid someone will know who you are?
Andy Burns and his family are in my prayers. I can’t even begin to imagine what is going on in their lives as a result of his actions. It is not this forum’s place to be the judge and jury. Justice will be served, now where is the community of neighbors who will get their hands dirty and help this man and his family before more damage is done? Supposed “Good” people get on the bandwagon to brand people with issues in their lives with a scarlet letter, but are seldom willing to step in and guide them from the lifestyles that are destroying their lives.
So, Monticellonians: instead of hiding behind your computer screen names so you won’t be accountable for what you say, why not do something useful - like Pray, counsel, mentor, and intervene! I’m not saying you need to approve of what he was doing, and what others are still doing. I’m saying let the justice system do it’s job, and as neighbors - do yours and see if it doesn’t make a difference in the lives of people like Andy Burns, those who live in drug-infested neighborhoods, and even your own family!
To those who love:
My comments are not directed at Andy Burns or anyone but my own personal experience with my own children put in direct harm from the same situation. I am not judging anyone else and I hope they have better results on getting the help they need for as good an outcome as they can get.
People need to realise the reason the crime rate has skyrocketed in this town is b/c of all the meth addists. It’s the truth when people say a meth addict will steal from their own grandmother to get their hands on meth. They will bust out your car window if a cell phone, a CD or anything worth 10 bucks is in sight in the middle of the day at Wal-Mart. When they are desperate for this drug they are very dangerous people, I dont care how ‘good’ they were before. Personally, just about everyone I know is dealing with a meth addict, whether it be their kid, cousin, mom. Everyone knows someone addicted to it. You may not know you know someone addicted to it but you do. Doctors, Lawyers, EMTs…all sorts of professional people are addicted to it. I know of a guy that was an EMT and failed a drug test due to meth. Can you imagine being in a horrible car wreck and the person that comes to rescue you is not only strung out but hasnt slept in days? The people in the medical field that have to work so many hours use it to keep them going. Dont think it’s just trashy people that use this drug. Meth is death. B.H.
IM TIRED OF SO CALLED PEOPLE THAT THINK THEIR SO HOLY. THIS IS THE DEVIL AT ITS BEST. IF YOU CANT SEE THAT, YOUR JUST AS BAD AS THE PEOPLE DOING AND MANUFACTURING THE CRAP. THERES NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THIS STUFF.
Well well well. To all of you, yes meth is evil. You might say Hitler got the last laugh on us. Those Nazi scientist created the ultimate drug, one that has no counter drug to remedy it. What once was thought a good idea has turned around and bit us all. It is true, everyone knows an addict even if they don’t think so. I tried it back in the 80’s, I was not impressed. Some of us have addicted natures but some of us don’t. I am no saint nor am I a sinner. Can’t be one if you don’t believe in sin. So when we speak of human downfalls, we should not blame or bring God or Gods into this equation. It is a human problem that can only be dealt with on a human level. If you want to see people get more “time” or “rehab” then we as a society need to develop an establishment that deals with the issue of addiction and it need not stop there, we need to have continual “education” afterwards on an out patient basis. There is no cure for addictions, only the will power to not do them. As for the children of the future, what do you do to help them stay away from this temptation? Just what do you have for them to do in Monticello? You ask anyone over the age of 13 why they do or did drugs, and chances are it was out of boredom, ask yourselves, what could possibly help? Maybe introduce them to culture, the arts, sports and I don’t mean football… basketball… baseball…How about fencing, la cross, or frisbee-golf are just a few things that they can do or try. Children need stimulation, why do you think they try stimulants? So all of you need to come off your pulpits and help your fellow neighbor instead of talking your hypocracies, as you Christians call it, be a good Samaritan, or were you sleeping during that sermon…..
can i ask what anyone that has posted if they did or have done anything to stop or deter drug addiction, use or distribution besides writing a paragraph or two on this website? i wonder how many people that are so anti- drug have beer in the fridge and deem that okay because it can be bought at a store.. and to ArTravlr- The reason we lock them up is because we dont want them stealing our butane tanks and robbing our homes. Yes- get them rehab to deal with their addictions, but allow them to make life changes of they face the consequences of prison. Your post reminded me of a quote i once heard- ‘The best conservative is a liberal who has been mugged at gunpoint’. YOU be the one to council, rehabilitate and ‘feel their pain’ when its your home that gets burglarized.
To Gimme a break, yes I have personally put a few close friends and spouses in rehab. I have sat through numerous AA & NA meetings with them. I have held many a hands while my patients went through detox. Let me tell you it is not a pretty sight. I have been hit by them while trying to help them. So yes I know first hand about addiction and the process of the road to recovery. I have personally turned in meth dealers and risked my life in the process. Have you?
yes, actually. I have worked narcotics in both overt and covert capacity for 14 years throughout the state working an average of 120-140 cases per year in that time frame and acting in an advisory role in at least twice that many. i have also been qualified as an expert witness to matters such as this throughout our state and in louisiana. i do commend you on all of the activities for which you listed in your comment. if more people would do just one of the things you mentioned having done, it would sure make my job a lot easier and our communities safer.
For What It Is Worth I have worked with the courts in this community and in every county in the state for over 20 years in Social Services. I have also had my home burglarized and I have family members on both sides of this issue.
I am well aware of the evil doers on both sides of law enforcement.
The United States has a very effective law enforcement system, so effective that we now have more people, percentage wise, in prison than any other nation in the world. The fact is law enforcement is reactive not proactive. They only go to work after the crime has been committed. We are losing the war on crime because we have made too many things illegal.
I have beer in my fridge and a wine cabinet stocked. I take a drink when I want one. I learned a long time ago how to be a responsible citizen. I have had the great fortune to serve my country for 22 years in the military seeing the world and it’s inhabitants. On the civilian side, I deal professionally with meth addicts everyday. I wished I knew the answer(s) as to how to break this horrid behavior, or knew someone who had the answer(s). I don’t, they don’t. But experience can attest that the addict must “will” themself to be free of their addiction/lifestyle. This may be the hardest step, self discipline often is…I talk to multitudes of addicts and ask them why they indulge in this so dangerous drug. What is the attraction of the drug, etc? I get a variety of responses. I know multiple addicts who have had extensive rehab with the best devices, money, programs and professionals on hand, but to no avail. I know addicts who have gone “cold turkey,” and kicked the habit giving credence to their “will.” I am not responsible for the poor decisions of these folks nor do I hold anyone responsible for the bad choices I make. Even so, I feel accountable to assist these poor souls giving them whatever God has blessed me with to help get them back on the right path. If any of you can assist me assist them, great. I am certain that there are many of you that have expertise and experience in this area and I am open to those things that work. Well, I got to run, getting a call now concerning one of those I serve…..
Ark TravLer is the only poster here who has made any sense. Get your head out of the church and listen up.