By By Steve Gillespie / staff writer
Aug. 29, 2002
The fifth suspect East Mississippi Drug Task Force officers were looking for in connection with a methamphetamine ring surrendered to law enforcement officers Wednesday afternoon.
Warren Cox, a task force agent, said the arrest of John Ray Dunn, 28, of 14420 Highway 15 North in Philadelphia brought the manhunt to an end.
Dunn remained in the Lauderdale County jail this morning on $65,000 bond. He was charged with possession of two or more precursors to manufacture methamphetamine and conspiracy to manufacture or possess crystal methamphetamine.
Methamphetamine is a form of speed that can be manufactured in makeshift labs.
East Mississippi Drug Task Force agents arrested Lisa Ann Fox, 33, and Shannon Moore, 19, both of Collinsville, last week. Also arrested were Claudia Ren Quinn, 32, and John T. Steed, 36, both of Meridian. All were charged with possession of two or more precursors to manufacture methamphetamine; all but Quinn were also charged with conspiracy to make the drug.
All the suspects remained in jail this morning except Fox, who was released on $90,000 bond last week.
The suspects were arrested based on a CrimeStoppers tip last Wednesday about a possible meth lab on Skyland Drive in Meridian.
Cox said officers conducted surveillance for about 90 minutes before swarming a vehicle at Highway 145 and 22nd Avenue Heights. The trunk, they said, was full of equipment to manufacture meth.
The agents traced the materials back to the house on Skyland Drive and federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents destroyed the lab equipment last Thursday morning.