Charges have been filed against six more people as part of a continuing investigation into the sale and production of methamphetamine in the Rimersburg area, Clarion County district attorney Mark Aaron said Friday.
Aaron’s office identified the six as Justin McIntyre, 33; Joseph McIntyre, 22; John McIntyre, 24; Tonya Barger, 21; Ashley Thompson, 25; and Corrine Klein, 31. They are all facing a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges in connection with the operation of a suspected meth lab at 20 Best Road in Rimersburg.
Four others were previously charged and taken into custody in connection with the case. They are Terry McIntyre, 52; Derrick Fowler, 33; Chrystal Best, 35; and Kayla Dunlap, 26. They are also facing felony and misdemeanor charges.
A press release from Aaron’s office said the individuals charged include not only those alleged to be “cooking” methamphetamine, but also those supplying raw materials to meth producers.
The DA’s office referred to the operation as the McIntyre Meth Organization.
The current high level of cooperation between the state police vice unit and the Clarion Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET) has led to this successful investigation and arrests, Aaron said.
The vice unit and CNET are continuing to work not only on this investigation, but on the growing problem of methamphetamine manufacturing in Clarion County, Aaron said. Methamphetamine production has equaled or surpassed heroin as the primary drug problem in the county, according to Aaron.
Large amounts of toxic waste by-products are produced in methamphetamine manufacturing, which then become an environmental hazard to anyone in the vicinity of a lab, the press release said. The illegal dumping of the by-products also creates a hazard to the water supply, the release said.
Anyone who encounters items that may have been used in the methamphetamine manufacturing process, such as plastic soda bottles, tubing or jars of liquid, should stay clear of the area and notify either Clarion state police at (814) 226-1710 or CNET at (814) 226-4423.