UPDATE: Suspected Meth Labs Investigated in York, James City; 10 Arrested

By Sam Thrift Friday, December 16, 2011

The Tri-Rivers Drug Task Force in conjunction with the York-Poquoson Sheriff’s Office and James City County Police Department executed five search warrants around 10:30 Thursday morning regarding the manufacturing and use of methamphetamine in an investigation dubbed "Operation Georgia Peach." Ten people were arrested, including five each from York and James City counties.
After a five-month investigation, warrants were executed at three York County residences in the 1200 block of Duncan Drive and the 1200 block of Wilkins Drive and two James City County residences in the 1100 block of Penniman Road and the 100 block of Rondane Place, according to a press release. All of the residences are single-family homes, according to Major Steve Rubino of the James City County Police Department.

Evidence recovered from the James City residences included chemicals, over-the-counter medications and other items consistent with the manufacturing of methamphetamine. Police said an out-of-service ambulance, which was used as a meth lab, was also seized during a traffic stop in the City of Williamsburg.

Arrested by James City County police were: David Evan Black Sr, 55, of Rondane Place, for manufacturing meth and two counts of conspiracy to violate the Drug Control Act; Sheri Lynn Black, 55, of Rondane Place, two counts of conspiracy to manufacture meth; Heidi-Beth McMahon, 47, of Rondane Place, two counts conspiracy to manufacture meth;  Mitchell “Mickey” Ray Jacobs Sr., of Penniman Road, two counts of possession with intent to manufacture meth and three counts conspiracy to manufacture meth; and Faith Ann Whitaker, 38, of Penniman Road, possession with intent to manufacture meth and two counts conspiracy to manufacture meth.

Arrested by the York-Poquoson Sheriff's Office were: Patrick Joseph Dubois, 56, of the 1200 block of Duncan Drive, four counts of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, two counts of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and one count of being a fugitive from justice from the state of Georgia; Richard Wayne Savage, 63, of the 1200 block of Duncan Drive, one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, three counts of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; Glenn Dubois, 35, 1200 block of Duncan Drive, one count of manufacturing methamphetamine, one count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and a probation violation; Amy Savage, 43, of the 1200 block of Duncan Drive, two counts of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine; and Lori Dennis, 30, of the 1200 block of Wilkins Drive, one count of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine, one count of felony child neglect and a probation violation.

A York sheriff's spokesman said a one-year-old child was transported by York County medics from the Wilkins Drive residence as a precautionary measure due to chemicals found inside the residence.

The York County Department of Fire and Life Safety, James City County Fire Department, regional Hazardous Materials Teams and the police from both jurisdictions investigated the incident, Rubino said. The fire departments and the hazmat team assisted law enforcement with any chemicals found during the search because of the dangerous chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine.

“The reason we sent [information on the incident] out so quickly is because the equipment and hazmat people on scene might cause alarm,” Rubino said Thursday morning.

According to the press release, the chemicals that may be encountered don’t pose an immediate risk to those in the area, but residents were asked to remain in their homes while the search warrants were executed.

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